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PUBLICATIONS

DNA-based Nanocomposite Bio-Coatings for Fire Retarding Polyurethane Foam

Published

Author(s)

Yu-Chin Li, Yeon S. Kim, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis

Abstract

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembled multilayer thin films of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), chitosan (CHI), and montmorillonite (MMT), were studied in an effort to produce fully renewable, bio-based fire retardant coatings for flexible polyurethane foam. The PUF bio-coatings constructed of 10 bilayers of CHI/DNA+MMT (16.2 % mass), 10 trilayers of CHI/MMT/DNA (8.1 % mass), and 5 quadlayers of CHI/DNA/CHI/MMT (4.9 % mass) all resulted in a significant reduction in critical flammability metrics, peak heat release rate (pHRR) and average HRR (aHRR). The mix bilayer, CHI/DNA+MMT, is the best formulation as it resulted in the greatest flammability reduction (51% pHRR and 81% aHRR) with the fastest bio-coating growth and the least amount of preparation and waste. This DNA and MMT- based bio-coating is the greatest flammability reduction of PUF reported to date using the LbL process. Constructed of bio-based and non-toxic materials combined with the fast growing BL approach, which has minimal waste, this is presumably the most environmental and bio-friendly fire retardant LbL coating reported.
Citation
Green Materials
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1680/gmat.14.00003
Local Download

Keywords

DNA, renewable materials, Layer-by-Layer assembly, polyurethane foam, flame retardant, cone calorimetry, furniture
Polymers, Nanomaterials, Materials flammability, Materials, Building materials and Biomaterials

Citation

Li, Y. , Kim, Y. , Shields, J. and Davis, R. (2014), DNA-based Nanocomposite Bio-Coatings for Fire Retarding Polyurethane Foam, Green Materials, [online], https://doi.org/10.1680/gmat.14.00003, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=915517 (Accessed October 8, 2025)

Issues

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Created May 1, 2014, Updated October 12, 2021
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