Bio-based Vanillin Flame Retardants for Sustainable Polymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flame retardants often rely on petroleum-based materials, which are non-renewable and environmentally unsustainable, and there is a need for bio-based alternatives that can effectively impart flame-retardant properties to polymers and materials.
Innovation Solution
Development of flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecules with phosphoryl or phosphonyl moieties, synthesized from bio-based vanillin, which are combined with polymers to form flame-retardant polymers, including phenol diol, carboxylic acid diol, and benzyl alcohol derivatives, and phosphorus-based molecules to enhance fire resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If petroleum-based flame retardants are used, then fire resistance is achieved, but environmental sustainability and renewability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing petroleum-based compounds with bio-based vanillin derivatives containing phosphorus moieties. The patent specifically uses vanillin as a starting material to synthesize flame-retardant compounds with phosphoryl or phosphonyl groups, thereby maintaining fire resistance while improving environmental sustainability and renewability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite flame-retardant molecules by combining vanillin derivatives with phosphorus-containing groups. The resulting compounds integrate the aromatic structure of vanillin with phosphoryl or phosphonyl moieties, forming composite molecules that exhibit both flame-retardant properties and bio-based characteristics
2Stability of the object's composition
If bio-based vanillin derivatives are synthesized, then environmental sustainability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synthesis process is segmented into distinct stages: first forming diol vanillin derivatives from vanillin, then reacting these with phosphorus-based flame-retardant molecules. This segmentation allows for modular production and simplifies the overall manufacturing process by breaking down complex synthesis into manageable steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses diol vanillin derivatives as intermediary compounds in the synthesis pathway. These intermediaries serve as connecting structures between the starting vanillin material and the final phosphorus-containing flame-retardant products, facilitating a systematic approach to manufacturing
Data Source
AI summary
A flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecule, a process for forming a flame-retardant polymer, and an article of manufacture comprising a material that contains the flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecule are disclosed. The flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecule can be synthesized from vanillin obtained from a bio-based source, and can have at least one phosphoryl or phosphonyl moiety with phenyl, allyl, or thioether substituents. The process for forming the flame-retardant polymer can include reacting a diol vanillin derivative and a flame-retardant phosphorus-based molecule to form the flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecule, and binding the flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecule to a polymer. The material in the article of manufacture can be flame-retardant, and contain the flame-retardant vanillin-derived small molecules. Examples of materials that can be in the article of manufacture can include resins, plastics, adhesives, polymers, etc.