Bio-derived Flame-retardant Curing Agents Enable One-step, Ambient Synthesis of Ultra-tough, Smoke-suppressed Epoxy

Hang-Tian Hu; Dan Xie; Zheng-Hong Guo; Feng-Qing Chen; Xing-Wei He; Gao-Bo Lou; Jin-Feng Dai; Li-Na Liu

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3471-y

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Bio-derived Flame-retardant Curing Agents Enable One-step, Ambient Synthesis of Ultra-tough, Smoke-suppressed Epoxy

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-01-13

- Bio-derived Flame-retardant Curing Agents Enable One-step, Ambient Synthesis of Ultra-tough, Smoke-suppressed Epoxy
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 1, Pages: 209-222(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
  b.Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
  c.Institute of Fire Safety Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ningbo Tech University, Ningbo 315100, China
- Author bio：
  
  20230195@zafu.edu.cn (D.X.)
  liulina198310@126.com (L.N.L.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3471-y
  CLC：
- Received：13 September 2025，
  
  Accepted：08 October 2025，
  
  Published Online：18 December 2025，
  
  Published：15 January 2026
- Accepted：
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Hu, H. T.; Xie, D.; Guo, Z. H.; Chen, F. Q.; He, X. W.; Lou, G. B.; Dai, J. F.; Liu, L. N. Bio-derived flame-retardant curing agents enable one-step, ambient synthesis of ultra-tough, smoke-suppressed epoxy. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 209–222

Hang-Tian Hu, Dan Xie, Zheng-Hong Guo, et al. Bio-derived Flame-retardant Curing Agents Enable One-step, Ambient Synthesis of Ultra-tough, Smoke-suppressed Epoxy[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 209-222.
Hu, H. T.; Xie, D.; Guo, Z. H.; Chen, F. Q.; He, X. W.; Lou, G. B.; Dai, J. F.; Liu, L. N. Bio-derived flame-retardant curing agents enable one-step, ambient synthesis of ultra-tough, smoke-suppressed epoxy. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 209–222 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3471-y.

Hang-Tian Hu, Dan Xie, Zheng-Hong Guo, et al. Bio-derived Flame-retardant Curing Agents Enable One-step, Ambient Synthesis of Ultra-tough, Smoke-suppressed Epoxy[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 209-222. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3471-y.

摘要

Bio-based toughening flame retardant (PA-DAO) synthesized by a one-step neutralization method using phytic acid (PA) and 1

8-diaminooctane (DAO) at room temperature. Incorporation of 25 wt% PA-DAO increased the limiting oxygen index from 20.5% to 28.1% and achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating

concomitant with a 71% reduction in PHRR and 53% suppression of total smoke production (TSP).

Abstract

A simultaneous boost in toughness and fire safety of epoxy (EP) is achieved through solvent-free one-step neutralization of phytic acid with 1

8-diaminooctane to yield a multifunctional bio-based curing agent

PA-DAO. When used as the sole hardener

5 wt% PA-DAO increased the tensile

flexural

and impact strengths by 165%

81%

and 455%

respectively

over the parent amine system

whereas the tensile and flexural toughness increased by 1387% and 775%

respectively. At 25 wt% loading

the resin attained a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index of 28.1%

accompanied by a 71% reduction in the peak heat-release rate and a 53% suppression of total smoke production. This facile

green protocol provides scalable access to ultra-tough

intrinsically flame-retardant epoxy networks without external plasticizers or additives.

关键词

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references

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