polymers Review Recent Advances in Bio-Based Flame Retardant Additives for Synthetic Polymeric Materials Christopher E. Hobbs Department of Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA;
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-936-294-3750 Received: 28 December 2018; Accepted: 24 January 2019; Published: 31 January 2019 Abstract: It would be difficult to imagine how modern life across the globe would operate in the absence of synthetic polymers. Although these materials (mostly in the form of plastics) have revolutionized our daily lives, there are consequences to their use, one of these being their high levels of flammability. For this reason, research into the development of flame retardant (FR) additives for these materials is of tremendous importance. However, many of the FRs prepared are problematic due to their negative impacts on human health and the environment. Furthermore, their preparations are neither green nor sustainable since they require typical organic synthetic processes that rely on fossil fuels. Because of this, the need to develop more sustainable and non-toxic options is vital. Many research groups have turned their attention to preparing new bio-based FR additives for synthetic polymers. This review explores some of the recent examples made in this field. Keywords: flame retardant; bio-based; green chemistry 1. Introduction Although instilling flame resistance has been a subject of interest since the ancient Egyptians [1], “modern” chemists have only been on the case since the 18th and 19th centuries, as evidenced by the words of American poet Emily Dickinson [2]: “Ashes denote that fire was—revere the grayest pile, for the departed creature’s sake, that hovered there awhile—fire exists the first in light, and then consolidates, only the chemist can disclose, into what carbonates.” The same era saw the publication of landmark work by French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (who studied flame resistance with the intent of protecting theatres) and Scottish chemist M.