LAUSR

The calcium alginate/CaCO3 composites were prepared via in situ method, and their flame retardancy and thermal degradation mechanism were investigated. The composites as-prepared were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), vertical burning (UL-94), cone calorimeter (CONE) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM demonstrated that the inorganic calcium salt in the composites had great influence on the morphology of materials. The TG results indicated the thermal stability of the composites was remarkably improved by 70 °C, compared with that of the calcium alginate. The combustion behaviors of the materials were assessed by CONE. In comparison with those of the calcium alginate, the peak heat release rate and total heat release of the composites decreased by 40.42 and 62.59%, respectively. The different degradation mechanisms of the calcium alginate and the composites were first proposed in detail based on the TG, XRD and SEM results. The composites exhibited excellent thermal stability and flame retardancy, which is promising to be developed for the application as flame-retardant materials in the future.