On revealing the effect of alkaline lignin and ammonium polyphosphate additives on fire retardant properties of sustainable zein-based composites

On the other side, APP enhances the fire resistance of composites exposed to pool forced combustion due to an enhanced charring effect which protects the substrate during burning. Finally the composite containing simultaneously 10 wt% APP and 3 wt% AL exhibited excellent fire resistance behavior in different fire scenario and satisfying mechanical properties with a toughness which is around 30% higher than that of pristine TPZ. Due to this peculiar combination of functional and structural properties the composite materials may be considered as potential substitutes of traditional polymeric materials in several application fields (i.e packaging, electrical components, …).