Guiyang University: Preparation and Structural Characterization of Ammonium Phytate-Coated Microcrystalline Cellulose
Abstract: Using biobased microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as the raw material, MCC was coated and modified by gradually adding melamine (MEL) and phytic acid (PA) to prepare a biobased hybrid structure of phytate amine-coated microcrystalline cellulose (MEL-PA-MCC). The structure, elemental composition, and morphology of MEL-PA-MCC were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that after modification with MEL-PA, MCC exhibited characteristic absorption peaks of C=N, P=O, and P—O at 1 624, 1 328, and 785 cm-1, respectively, and the maximum thermal decomposition rate significantly decreased, while the char yield increased; the surface of the MEL-PA-MCC hybrid structure was densely attached with round particles, and the N and P elements were significantly enhanced, and the crystallization behavior was also significantly changed. These results collectively indicate that the phytate amine successfully achieved the coating and modification of MCC. When MEL-PA-MCC was used to modify poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), the composite material could achieve a UL-94 V-1 rating in vertical burning tests when the mass fraction of MEL-PA-MCC added was 5%, and the limiting oxygen index increased to 25.5%, with significant improvement in anti-dripping performance. In addition, the tensile strength and tensile elastic modulus of the PBAT/5%MEL-PA-MCC composite material were increased by 87.31% and 41.30%, respectively, compared to pure PBAT. Therefore, the introduction of the prepared MEL-PA-MCC flame-retardant hybrid structure can significantly improve the flame retardancy and tensile properties of PBAT.
keywords: phytic acid; melamine; microcrystalline cellulose; flame retardant; hybrid structure
In recent years, the preparation of hybrid flame retardants by introducing organic or inorganic particles rich in P, N flame-retardant elements for modifying composite materials has received considerable attention. Phytic acid (PA) is a phosphoric compound with high phosphorus content, featuring good biocompatibility, environmental friendliness, and certain flame-retardant properties. Under high-temperature conditions, PA decomposes to produce phosphoric acid and water, where phosphoric acid plays a role in reducing the flammability of materials [17-19]. For instance, Xiao Wencheng [18] used chitosan hydrogel as a carrier, forming a three-dimensional network structure with PA, and doped it with nanoscale silica sol to prepare flame-retardant polyester fabric. The results showed that the treated fabric had better thermal stability, with an increase of 41.5% in char yield, no melt dripping, achieving a synergistic flame-retarding effect among phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicon. Additionally, melamine (MEL), due to its high nitrogen content, low cost, and easy availability, can serve as a gas source in intumescent flame retardants, releasing a large amount of inert gases during combustion, playing an excellent synergistic flame-retarding role in the gas phase [20]. He Wenping [21] synthesized diphenylamine phosphate melamine salt (DPMS) through further reaction with MEL using o-phenylenediamine and phosphoryl trichloride as raw materials, and blended it with nylon 6 by melting. The results indicated that DPMS could significantly improve the flame-retardant performance of the nylon 6 composite, passing the UL-94 test at V-0 level. Luo Minyi [22] prepared polyphosphate (MPP) mainly from MEL and phosphoric acid, adding it to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). When 16.6 wt% MPP was added, the PVA composite material reached a flame-retardant grade of V-0, with a significant reduction in heat release rate and a noticeable improvement in mechanical properties.
Introducing PA and MEL into the carrier, a MEL-PA hybrid flame retardant structure was prepared for modifying the polymer matrix. It is reported that Li Wenxiong [23] further reacted the prepared MEL-PA with transition metal ions Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ to prepare a bio-based hybrid flame retardant for flame-retardant polypropylene. Zhang Bing et al. [24] prepared MEL-PA/RPUF composites by melting and mixing self-made MEL-PA with rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) at a certain ratio. The study showed that compared with pure RPUF, the thermal stability of MEL-PA/RPUF composites was higher, and the residual carbon rate significantly increased to 20.6%. Wang Yiwen et al. [25] blended MEL-PA with nylon 66 by melting to prepare composites. Test results indicated that MEL-PA improved the flame retardancy of nylon 66. When the mass fraction of MEL-PA reached 8%, the UL-94 test rating of the composite could reach V-0 level, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) was greater than 27%, and the total smoke release was significantly reduced. Although both PA and MEL as raw materials for flame retardant modification have good flame retardant effects, there are few reports on the use of PA and MEL to coat and modify MCC to prepare hybrid flame retardants.
Therefore, the author uses MCC as a carrier and adopts PA and MEL to encapsulate and modify MCC, preparing phytic acid amine encapsulated MCC (MEL-PA-MCC) bio-based hybrid flame retardant material. The influence of different molar ratios of PA and MEL on the structure and composition of MCC is explored. The structure, morphology, elemental composition, and thermal stability of MEL-PA-MCC are systematically characterized. MEL-PA-MCC is applied to a biodegradable matrix - poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and the flame retardancy and tensile properties of PBAT/MEL-PA-MCC composites are analyzed.
1 Experimental Section
1.1 Major Raw Materials
1.2 Main Instruments and Equipment
1.3 Preparation of MEL-PA-MCC

Tab. 1 Formulation of MEL-PA-MCC ( g )

1.4 Preparation of PBAT/MEL-PA-MCC Composite Materials
Table 2 Composition ratios of different PBAT/MEL-PA-MCC composites

1.5 Testing and Characterization
2.1 FTIR Analysis

2.2 Thermal Stability Analysis

Table 3 TG and DTG data of pure MCC and MEL-PA-MCC

Notes:T10% is temperature of 10% weight loss;Tmax is temperature of maximum mass loss rate.
2.3 DSC Analysis

Table 4 DSC data of pure MCC and MEL-PA-MCC

Notes:Tm is melting temperature;ΔH is enthalpy value.
2.4 XRD Analysis

2.5 XPS Analysis

Table 5 XPS test data for pure MCC and MEL-PA-MCC

2.6 Structural Morphology Analysis

2.7 Element Composition Analysis

2.8 Effects of MEL-PA-MCC on the properties of PBAT/MEL-PA-MCC composites
Table 6 Flame Retardancy of Different PBAT/MEL-PA-MCC Composites

Note:NR refers to not reaching flame-retardant rating.

Using MCC as the carrier, PA and MEL were used to encapsulate and modify it, preparing a MEL-PA-MCC hybrid flame-retardant structure. The effect of adding different amounts of PA and MEL ratios on the structure, elemental composition, morphology, and thermal stability of MCC was explored. MEL-PA-MCC was introduced into PBAT resin, and its impact on the flame retardancy and tensile properties of the matrix was studied. Based on the experimental data results, the following main conclusions were obtained.
FTIR analysis indicated that MEL-PA-MCC, compared to pure MCC, mainly exhibited characteristic peaks of the triazine ring structure's C=N, N—H, P=O, and P—O at 1 624, 1 526, 1 328 cm-1, and 785 cm-1. Through SEM micro-morphology analysis, MEL-PA-MCC still had neatly arranged rod-like structures, and a large number of round particles were uniformly attached to the surface, mainly showing C, O, N, P elements uniformly adhered to the surface of MCC. The above results showed that phytic acid amine had been successfully coated on the surface of MCC.
(2) According to the thermal stability analysis, it is known that after coating modification, there is a certain degree of impact on the thermal stability of MCC. Compared with pure MCC, the maximum thermal degradation rate of MEL-PA-MCC is significantly reduced, and the char yield is significantly increased, with the highest char yield reaching 26.51%, indicating that phytic acid amine coating has significantly improved the charring ability of MCC.
(3) The crystallization behavior of phytammine-coated MCC changed significantly, with a significant reduction in diffraction peaks, indicating a decrease or weakening in crystallization behavior.
(4) The introduction of MEL-PA-MCC can effectively improve the flame retardancy and tensile properties of the PBAT matrix. When the mass fraction of MEL-PA-MCC added is 5%, the composite material reaches a flame retardant V-1 level, with LOI increased to 25.5%; compared to pure PBAT, the tensile strength and tensile elastic modulus of the PBAT/5%MEL-PA-MCC composite material are increased by 87.31% and 41.30%, respectively.
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