Achieving fire safety in bio-based polyamide 510/6/DT with ultra-efficient reactive flame retardants

The escalating complexity of industrial applications, coupled with the growing imperative for energy efficiency and environmental safety, highlights the need for the development of multifunctional, bio-based polyamide materials. In this work, we report the synthesis of a novel bio-based polyamide (PA510/6/DT), characterized by exceptional flame retardancy, high transparency, and superior UV resistance. This material is synthesized via the copolymerization of bio-based pentylenediamine, sebacic acid, caprolactam, and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (DT), DT acts as an ultra-efficient flame retardant and endowing PA510/6/DT with powerful flame-retardant properties. The resultant PA510/6/DT demonstrates a V-0 rating in the UL 94 test and exhibits significantly reduced smoke production upon combustion, ensuring enhanced fire safety. Notably, the incorporation of DT not only preserves the inherent mechanical integrity of the polyamide matrix but also imparts excellent UV shielding and maintains high transparency, addressing compatibility challenges commonly encountered with traditional flame retardants. Non-isoconversional kinetic analysis reveals that pyrolysis follows an interfacial reaction-controlled mechanism (R3 contracting sphere model), validated by high activation energies and char-layer formation. Furthermore, PA510/6/DT exhibits remarkable mechanical strength and exceptional thermal stability, making it a promising candidate for high-performance applications in fields requiring concurrent flame retardancy, optical clarity, UV protection, and environmental sustainability.