Natural Polymer Gel-Plastic: A Facile and Eco-Friendly Synthesis Route for Strong, Flexible and Flame-Retardant Materials
Project Supervisor: Dr. Syed Farrukh Alam Zaidi
Hydrogels have attracted attention for developing the flame-retardant materials due to their mechanical robustness and multifunctional properties. However, achieving flame-retardant properties using hydrogels typically requires complex and labor-intensive fabrication techniques, such as forming composites with nanomaterials or combining natural and synthetic polymers. While these approaches aim to enhance both mechanical and fire-retardant properties, they present challenges in terms of accessible synthesis methods and often rely on petrochemical-based polymers, raising sustainability concerns. In this context, a simple synthesis method using green materials, such as biologically derived natural polymers, can address the identified challenges. This study reports a facile approach for developing a gel-plastic that meets these demands by incorporating a natural polymer with non-toxic organic salts. Immersion of the hydrogels in non-toxic organic salt solutions resulted in strong and flexible gel-plastic after the drying step. The salts contributed to the modification of the natural polymer-gel network, preserving both strength and flexibility. Additionally, the combination of the salts and the natural polymer provided flame-retardant properties without softening of the gel. This study offers a simple and eco-friendly synthesis route to achieve enhanced mechanical and flame-retardant properties, which can be adapted for various flame-retardant applications.
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Group members
- Farhan Yaqoob farhanhanyaqub1122@gmail.com
- Muhammad Waleed waleedtariqlm50@gmail.com
- Muhammad Asif masifm1921@gmail.com
