An intrinsically modified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) matrix is designed for EVA/MH composite cable materials to improve their mechanical properties, aging resistance and fire safety. In this study, diphenylphosphinic chloride (DC) containing reactive phosphorus groups and benzene ring structure was grafted onto EVA to form EVA-DC. When the EVA-DC content is 40%, the EVA-6 cable has demonstrated high rigidity (Tensile strength increased by more than 50%) and significantly improved aging resistance (retention rate of elongation at break reached 92% at 150 degrees C after 7 days). Meanwhile, EVA-6 cable material reaches V-0 rating and LOI value as high as 37%, and the peak of smoke production rate decreased by 75%. Furthermore, the peak of heat release rate of EVA-6 material has decreased by over 85%, indicating that EVA-DC possesses enhanced flame retardancy. The flame retardant mechanism of EVA-DC cable materials was also studied. Therefore, intrinsically modified EVA-DC polymer effectively enhances the fire safety, mechanical properties and long-term aging resistance of EVA-DC/MH composite cable materials. Unlike conventional additive flame-retardant systems that often suffer from poor compatibility, this matrix modification approach ensures long-term stability and durability while significantly improving tensile strength.

Conventional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials predominantly reflect waves, causing secondary pollution, while achieving absorption-dominated shielding without complex structures or magnetic components remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the scrub sponge architecture, this study develops a CNTs/MF-PA foam-film composites with modular bi-conductive networks for tunable absorption-dominated EMI shielding, where the porous foam serves as a regulatory component that modulates the electromagnetic response of the underlying organic coating. The asymmetric design, combining a carbon nanotube-loaded melamine foam (CNTs/MF) with a replaceable silver nanowire-based organic coating (PA), achieves 76.89 dB shielding effectiveness (SE) and 0.94 absorption coefficient (A) without magnetic components. Notably, by interchanging the bottom coating with varying EMI SE (20-80 dB), the overall shielding performance can be precisely tuned while maintaining an ultra-high A above 0.93, demonstrating universal foam regulation of different coatings for customizable shielding. The superior performance stems from synergistic effects where the foam layer ensures excellent impedance matching, promotes multiple scattering, and induces phase cancellation through extended propagation paths, while the organic coating provides robust shielding. This work offers a groundbreaking strategy for developing functional organic coating materials with tailored electromagnetic performance, holding immense promise for applications in flexible electronics and advanced aerospace systems.

Poly (butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly material. However, due to its flammability and the formation of molten droplets during combustion, green flame retardants need to be added to enhance fire safety while maintaining environmental friendliness. In this work, a rod-shaped magnesium hydroxide carbonate (BMC) was synthesized as a flame retardant and combined with the bio-based phytic acid melamine supramolecular (PM). The micrometer-sized rod-shaped BMC acts as the "corn cob", while the spherical particles formed by PM supramolecules act as the "corn kernels". They are structurally locked together through acid-base neutralization, forming a unique "corn-like" hetero-sized assembly structure (PMBMC). When 20 wt% PMBMC is added to PBAT, the composite material passes the UL-94 test and the LOI reaches 28.8 %. Meanwhile, it can reduce PHRR, THR, and MARHE by 82.9 %, 12.2 %, and 69.1 %. Additionally, SP, CO2P, and COP are reduced by 92.7 %, 81.3 %, and 82.6 %, respectively. Moreover, compared with the unmodified flame retardant, the Eb and Ts of PBAT/PMBMC increase by 13.6 %, and 51.6 % due to the hydrogen bond. In conclusion, this study provides a new idea for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly PBAT green material flame retardant and smoke suppressant by using natural bio-based materials.

To improve the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and anti-aging performance of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) composites, a multifunctional microencapsulated flame retardant (ECO@APP) was fabricated in this work. Employing a "one in all" strategy, the microcapsules feature a polymer shell derived from cyanuric chloride, ethylenediamine, and 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (AO), with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) serving as the core material. After the addition of 29 wt% ECO@APP, the TPE-3 passed the UL94 test and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) as high as 27%. Compared with pure TPE (1350.3 kW/m2), the peak heat release rate of TPE-3 was significantly reduced to 384.3 kW/m2, with a reduction of 71.5%; and its maximum smoke density decrease by 45.0%. Benefitting from the large-molecule shell layer, the tensile stress and the elongation at break of TPE-3 improve to 10.0 MPa and 307%, each has increased by 58.7% and 49.2% respectively. Moreover, the oxidation induction time (OIT) of TPE-3 was 18.3 min, which enhanced by 169.1% (compared with pure TPE 6.8 min) and remained stable even after a 5 days extraction process. In addition, following thermal aging at 165 degrees C for 14 days, TPE-3 maintained an elongation at break retention of 71.9%, exhibiting the remarkable anti-aging properties. In summary, ECO@APP improves the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and aging resistance of TPE composites. This study provides a viable strategy for designing innovative TPE composites and broadens their potential applications.

To address the intrinsic flammability of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and the deterioration of mechanical properties caused by high loadings of traditional flame retardants, a novel organic-inorganic hybrid flame retardant (MH@NdH@Si) was prepared via in situ growth of Nd(OH)(3) and KH570 modification on the surface of Mg(OH)(2) hexagonal sheets, which was applied to the EVA matrix. The results demonstrate that MH@NdH@Si can significantly enhance fire safety and physical properties of EVA composites. Compared with pure EVA, EVA/MH@NdH@Si achieves V-0 rating in the UL-94 test and limiting oxygen index as high as 36%. The peak heat release rate of EVA/MH@NdH@Si is reduced by 82.8%, which drastically mitigates the fire risk induced by the EVA composites. In addition, the peak production rates of CO and CO2 of the EVA/MH@NdH@Si composite are much lower than those of pure EVA, indicating a remarkable inhibitory effect of MH@NdH@Si on the release of toxic gases. The elongation at break of EVA/MH@NdH@Si is increased to 179%, improving by 105.7% compared to that of EVA/MH, which effectively alleviates the mechanical degradation of composites caused by Mg(OH)(2) fillers. In conclusion, the organic-inorganic hybrid flame-retardant MH@NdH@Si constructed in this study can realize excellent flame retardant and smoke suppression while improving the physical properties of composites, thus providing a novel strategy for the development of high-performance flame-retardant EVA composites with balanced comprehensive properties.

Herein, a bio-based reactive flame retardant diphenylanthraquinone phosphine oxide (DOPO-ITA) was incorporated into the polybutylene adipate terephthalate(PBAT) molecular chain as a third monomer. Then, the multiscale nanocomposites were further prepared by introducing phosphorus-nitrogen synergist (HPA-PZ) and nanoclay (MMT). Among these, PBAT6 showed the most prominent performance, with a limiting oxygen value (LOI) of 31.5 +/- 0.5%, a peak heat release rate (PHRR) reduced by 53.2% compared to PBAT1, and a total heat release (THR) reduced by 20.4%. DOPO-ITA acts mainly in the gas phase via phosphorus-containing radicals. HPA-PZ and MMT synergize in the condensed phase-HPA-PZ promotes charring, while MMT densifies the char layer, yielding 6.26 at% phosphorus enrichment in PBAT7, which was 10.4 times that of PBAT4. Moreover, the tensile strength (21.1 MPa) and elongation at break (1589%) of PBAT7 increased by 52.7% and 29.7% compared to PBAT1. After 45-day biodegradation, PBAT5-7 developed pits, whereas PBAT1-4 only roughened, indicating HPA-PZ/MMT accelerates degradation. This work verified the feasibility of simultaneously enhancing the flame retardancy, mechanical properties and controllable degradability of materials.

SEBS/PP-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are inherently flammable and susceptible to thermo-oxidative and photo-oxidative aging during outdoor and semi-outdoor service. To address these limitations, a novel phosphorus-containing hindered amine, PCNO, was designed and synthesized as a multifunctional flame-retardant synergist and antioxidant. PCNO was combined with PAPP to construct a PCNO/PAPP hybrid system, and the effects of their mass ratio on the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, thermo-oxidative aging resistance, and UV aging resistance of TPE composites were systematically investigated. At a fixed total flame-retardant loading of 24 wt%, partial replacement of PAPP with 1.5 wt% PCNO enabled the resulting composite (TPE-2) to achieve a UL-94 V-0 rating. Cone calorimetry showed that the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of TPE-2 decreased to 302 kW/m² and 79.5 MJ/m², respectively, corresponding to reductions of 77.6% and 24.6% compared with those of neat TPE. These results demonstrate that PCNO provides efficient synergistic flame retardancy at a low loading. Moreover, TPE-2 exhibited improved mechanical performance, with its elongation at break reaching 480%, an increase of 37.9% relative to neat TPE. Thermo-oxidative and UV-aging tests further demonstrated the excellent anti-aging activity of PCNO, which effectively mitigated the deterioration of TPE performance under different aging conditions. Overall, PCNO and PAPP exhibited pronounced synergistic effects, providing a practical strategy for developing halogen-free TPE materials with enhanced fire safety, mechanical performance, and long-term durability.

Wood board is valued in construction and furniture for its strength, sustainability, and renewability, though flammability remains a critical safety concern. This research developed a core-shell structured flame retardant combining an organic phosphorus compound (outer shell) and ammonium polyphosphate (inner core) to enhance fire safety. Comparative testing between self-made board A and commercial boards B/C revealed how hygrothermal aging affects material durability. Results demonstrated environmental exposure impacts flame resistance more significantly than physical properties, with high humidity accelerating degradation. Board A maintained 50-94 % retention in bending strength and elastic modulus after aging, outperforming board B which suffered severe mechanical loss. Although all boards showed reduced moisture absorption, board A preserved superior weather resistance through stable pore structure retention in humid conditions. Its optimized filler dispersion and interfacial bonding achieved balanced flame-retardant durability and mechanical stability. This dual-functional improvement enables reliable performance in prolonged hygrothermal environments. The study establishes design principles for developing flame-retardant wood composites with enhanced environmental adaptability, addressing critical needs for fire safety and material longevity in engineering applications.

Electrothermal radiation (ETR) films are promising for portable, energy-efficient heating in harsh environments, but current systems suffer from low efficiency and poor safety. Here, a fireproof p-AMWNTs-M ETR film with photoelectrically collaborative modes is developed, integrating an electrothermal layer with high electrothermal-radiation conversion efficiency (80%) and emissivity (0.90), along with a cross-linked MXene layer and a high-reflectance layer (0.71) for energy saving. The ETR films demonstrate an exceptional heating effect, capable of reaching comfortable temperatures above 25 degrees C of entire tents even in extremely cold environments at -30 degrees C. In addition, the photoelectric collaborative multimodal enhancing heating methods was integrated in ETR films to achieve efficient heating while saving-energy and environmental-friendly. Furthermore, it also exhibits excellent EMI shielding (similar to 50 dB), durability under extreme conditions, and high fire safety. This work provides a viable strategy for advanced thermal management and electromagnetic protection in extremely cold environments.

Burn wounds present unique challenges for dressings due to severe vascular damage, irregular wound shapes, and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this work, we designed a bio-based multifunctional hydrogel dressing possessing antioxidant, antibacterial, and angiogenic properties. The hydrogel matrix was functionalized by embedding black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS) coated with a tannic acid-copper ion complex (BPNS@TA-Cu), thereby imparting unique pH-dependent dual functions to the resulting composite. Specifically, under acidic microenvironments, it demonstrates a synergistic combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and peroxidase-like (POD) activity, conferring potent antibacterial efficacy. In contrast, under neutral conditions, the material effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), thereby exhibiting outstanding antioxidant properties. The hydrogel's rapid self-healing and shape adaptability arose from a dynamic cross-linked network formed via borate ester bonds among gelatin (Gel), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cationic guar gum (CG), BPNS@TA-Cu, and borax. This adaptability allowed the dressing to conform to and fill irregular burn wounds, ensuring close contact. The hydrogel promoted full-thickness burn defect wound healing by facilitating granulation tissue formation, epithelial regeneration, and collagen deposition. Collectively, these findings establish the GPC-BTC hydrogel as a viable and promising multifunctional dressing strategy to accelerate burn wound healing.

Infected burn wounds remain challenging to treat because bacterial contamination and oxidative stress can jointly compromise tissue repair. Herein, we report an adhesive supramolecular elastomer patch (PLCTF) constructed from a dynamic poly(alpha-lipoic acid) network reinforced by Fe-polyphenol coordination and hydrogen bonding. The reversible disulfide chemistry of lipoic acid contributes to network adaptability, resulting in improved mechanical performance and conformal adhesion on moist skin-like biological tissue surfaces. Under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, PLCTF converted the incident NIR light into localized heat, thereby further enhancing PLCTF-mediated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli under controlled irradiation conditions. In addition, the polyphenolic motifs and lipoic acid-related components provided radical-scavenging activity, as evidenced by chemical radical-scavenging assays and intracellular ROS fluorescence analysis. PLCTF also showed favorable hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, including after short-term NIR exposure, and promoted fibroblast migration. In an S. aureus-infected burn wound model, PLCTF combined with NIR irradiation accelerated wound closure and improved histological healing outcomes, including enhanced collagen deposition and re-epithelialization. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased angiogenesis-associated signals and reduced inflammation-associated marker staining. These results indicate that PLCTF integrates wet-tissue adhesion, ROS-scavenging activity, and NIR-assisted antibacterial function, supporting its promise as an antibiotic-free topical dressing for superficial infected burn wounds.

To address the growing need for lightweight and multifunctional stealth materials in modern protective applications, this study presents an innovative melamine foam (MF)-based composite featuring an asymmetric dual-nano conductive network with integrated absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, infrared (IR) stealth, and flame retardant properties. Inspired by Salisbury screen, the composites employ MF as an interlayer and flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber membrane as a substrate. The architecture features a carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-modified impedance matching nanofiber layer as the top absorber and a silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-modified nanofiber layer as the highly conductive reflective bottom. Precise control of CNTs content and interlayer thickness enables tunable electromagnetic waves (EMWs) absorption, yielding a low reflection (0.03) and high EMI shielding effectiveness (79.23 dB) at 4.40 mm. Even at 1.40 mm, effective absorption-dominated shielding is maintained. And the performance remains stable under ultrasonic, compression, and bending, demonstrating high durability. Especially, the mechanism behind achieving absorption-dominated EMI shielding at a reduced thickness, which relies on destructive interference of EMWs enabled by the asymmetric dual-nano conductive network, is thoroughly elucidated. Additionally, the composite exhibits superior IR stealth and self-extinguishing properties. This work offers a feasible strategy for designing high-performance stealth materials with strong potential for personnel and communication equipment protection.

Interior biocompatibility and electromagnetic interference (EMI) have become critical concerns in the design of advanced robotic electronic skins, creating an urgent demand for flexible, durable materials that eliminate solvent residues while providing integrated shielding and sensing functions. This study presents a breakthrough in solvent-free polyurethane (SFPU) microfiber-based skin by architecting asymmetric dual-conductive networks that mimic the hierarchical structure of natural tissue, achieving excellent absorption-dominated EMI shielding performance in the X-band and Ku-band along with reliable sensing capability. In detail, a highly conductive silver nanowires (AgNWs) layer is constructed on the microfiber fabric, serving as the primary electromagnetic reflection layer. Subsequently, an SFPU composite layer with tunable carbon nanotubes (CNTs) loading is coated onto the conductive microfiber fabric to modulate impedance matching. This dual-conductive configuration facilitates an absorption-reflection-reabsorption mechanism, significantly enhancing both overall EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) and the absorption coefficient (A). At a minimal thickness of only 1.18 mm leather exhibits exceptional EMI SE values of 69.05 dB (A = 0.86) in the X-band and 73.26 dB (A = 0.92) in the Ku-band. Remarkably, the material maintains performance integrity after rigorous tests including ultrasonication, cyclic bending and peeling, demonstrating superior EMI shielding stability. This work provides a viable strategy for designing eco-friendly, absorption-dominated, and perceptive EMI-shielding skins for next-generation robotic and human-machine interaction systems.

The flammability of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), caused by its thermal-oxidative aging, poses a serious fire hazard in the cable industry. To address the poor compatibility, easy migration, and complex modification processes of intumescent flame retardants (IFR) in EVA, a highly efficient and mild thiol-ene click chemistry strategy is developed to construct a series of core-shell flame retardants (APP@Si@PS and CFA@Si@PS) with tunable phosphorus oxidation states (-1, +1, +3, +5) in the shell layer. The click reaction rapidly grafts functional shells onto both APP and CFA cores under UV (30min, r.t.), thereby improving the compatibility of the flame retardant. At a low addition amount of 25 wt%, the obtained EVA composites (EVA-3 to EVA-6) achieve UL-94 V-0 rating, with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) as high as 27.5%. Among them, the EVA-5 containing +3 phosphorus oxidation state shell has the best comprehensive performance: its peak heat release rate (PHRR) and carbon monoxide release rate (PCOPR) are reduced by 80% and 59% respectively compared to pure EVA, and the retention of elongation at break was 90.0% after aging at 180 °C for 7 days. This work highlights the power of click chemistry for the rapid, mild, and scalable fabrication of multifunctional halogen-free flame retardants, and demonstrates the multifunctional advantages of APP@Si@PS for EVA cable materials, including enhanced fire safety, improved mechanical properties and anti-aging performance.

With the demand for high-precision military equipment, the development of high-performance, adaptable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with thermal management and durability has become a research focus. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) were grown in situ on carbon cloth (CC) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, and then a robust PDMS@NCNTs@CC fabric was obtained through polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) encapsulation. The interpenetrating conductive NCNTs network endows the material with outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness (73 dB), excellent electrothermal response (up to 145 degrees C at 2.4 V), and remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency. The PDMS layer significantly enhances hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 140 degrees), mechanical durability, and environmental stability. Notably, PDMS@NCNTs@CC maintains stable EMI shielding and electrothermal performance after a series of harsh service conditions, including mechanical abrasion, acidic,alkaline and saline environments, and long-term aging under high temperature and humidity conditions (85 degrees C/85% RH for 14 days). This study provides a feasible strategy for developing high-performance multifunctional textiles suitable for military electronic equipment operating under extreme conditions.

In this study, a molecularly engineered graphene-phosphazene-antioxidant (GHNA) was synthesized through molecular structure design and nanohybrid modification techniques based on graphene oxide (GO). The effects of GHNA on the mechanical properties, thermal aging resistance, thermal stability, and fire safety of ethylene-vinyl acetate cable material were systematically investigated. GHNA exhibited exceptional antioxidant properties. After aging for 2 days at 165 degrees C and 4 days at 150 degrees C, the EVA/GHNA-5 composite retained 87.5 % and 83.2 % of its elongation at break, indicating a significantly extended thermal aging lifetime compared to unmodified EVA cable systems. Notably, the incorporation of GHNA at a low loading of 5 wt.% effectively suppressed the fire hazards of the EVA composite, achieving a 42 % reduction in peak heat release rate, a 60 % decrease in peak CO production rate, and a 29 % decline in maximum smoke density. Further safety evaluation confirmed that the developed nano flame-retardant GHNA substantially mitigates the fire hazard of EVA cable. This novel molecularly engineered nano-modification strategy thereby provides a promising approach for developing highperformance cable materials that simultaneously offer high fire safety, excellent thermal aging resistance, and mechanical property.

Traditional polyolefin (PO) flame-retardant cable materials suffer from low flame retardancy efficiency, poor mechanical properties, and are susceptible to thermal oxidative degradation during long-term service. This work presents a novel strategy by introducing the hindered phenolic antioxidant and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphe-nanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) into shell materials to prepare microencapsulated magnesium hydroxide (DDAO@MH). The PO composites achieved a V-0 rating with the addition of 60 wt.% DDAO@MH (PO-2), whereas the PO materials received no rating with the same loading of pure MH. Benefiting from the dual advantages of phosphorus-containing DOPO derivatives and antioxidant AO, the peak heat release rate and total heat release rate of PO-2 decreased by 88% and 44%, respectively, compared with pure PO. Moreover, the total smoke production of PO-2 composites was significantly reduced to 135 m2, representing an 83.3% reduction compared with pure PO materials (809 m2). Furthermore, the elongation at break of PO-2 reached 488%, which was a 57.2% increase compared with PO composites added with pure MH. Even after thermal aging at 135 degrees C for 91 days, the retention rate of elongation at break of PO-2 remained as high as 50%, demonstrating excellent longterm aging resistance. Therefore, this study provides an effective strategy for developing advanced PO cable materials with improved fire safety, mechanical properties, and aging resistance.

EMI shielding textiles are essential for modern applications such as wearable electronics and smart protective equipment, owing to their flexibility and lightweight nature. However, their susceptibility to ignition or performance degradation under high-temperature or fire scenarios poses a serious safety risk, limiting their use in environments where fire safety is critical. To address this challenge, we developed a composite coating consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene- sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) doped with ethylene glycol (EG) and phytic acid (PA), combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), to endow cotton fabrics with integrated flame retardancy, fire resistance, and durable EMI shielding. Crucially, the coating employs a "one-stone-two-birds" strategy that leverages an in-situ conductive-charring mechanism during combustion. The PEDOT:PSS system catalytically promoted char formation, while the rGO sheets simultaneously provided a conductive template, co-constructing a highly graphitized, conductive carbon network that preserved electromagnetic attenuation functionality under flame. The optimized coating formulation endowed the fabric with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 33.0%. In cone calorimeter testing, the heat release rate (HRR) decreased from 142.83 kW/m(2) to 3.12 kW/m(2), and the total heat release (THR) reduced from 3.97 MJ/m(2) to 1.36 MJ/ m(2). The coated fabric exhibited an initial EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 43.99 dB. Notably, even after 20 min of direct flame impingement from a spray gun, the shielding effectiveness (SET) of CPPE/P1.5G still exceeds the commercial EMI shielding requirement (>20 dB), attenuating over 99% of the incident electromagnetic waves (EMWs). This work demonstrates a feasible strategy for fabricating textile-based shields that maintain EMI protection even under fire conditions, offering a promising pathway toward safer, high-performance multifunctional textiles.

Infected burn wounds are characterized by bacterial invasion, oxidative stress, and persistent inflammation, which severely impair tissue regeneration. Herein, we report a crosslinker-free, hydrogen-bonded cationic guar gum hydrogel (CBBM) co-loaded with berberine (BBR) and MnO2-coated black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNS@MnO2) for the microenvironment-adaptive treatment of infected burn wounds. The dynamic guar gum network endowed the hydrogel with injectability, self-healing ability, and conformal adaptability. BPNS@MnO2 exhibited pH-dependent enzyme-like activities, including OXD-like antibacterial activity under acidic conditions and SOD-/CAT-like ROS-scavenging activity under near-neutral conditions and endowed the hydrogel with NIR-triggered photothermal responsiveness. Moreover, NIR irradiation further enhanced the antibacterial efficacy and moderately enhanced BBR release from the hydrogel. In vitro, CBBM combined with NIR irradiation achieved potent antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and E. coli under the tested conditions and reduced intracellular ROS levels. In vivo, the CBBM + NIR treatment accelerated infected burn wound healing, achieving a wound closure rate of 97.53 ± 2.01% by day 14, accompanied by reduced inflammation, enhanced collagen deposition, and increased expression of the angiogenesis-related markers VEGF and CD31. These results demonstrate that the CBBM hydrogel is a promising multifunctional guar gum-based dressing for infected burn wound healing by integrating local drug delivery, catalytic regulation, and photothermal activation.

Cotton fabrics are highly flammable cellulose-based textiles that are prone to rapid flame spread and smoldering, creating serious fire-safety risks. Hydrogel coatings offer a promising route for textile fire protection because their water-rich networks can absorb heat through evaporation and subsequently form thermally insulating char barriers. However, many reported hydrogel coatings require complex preparation, external curing, or long processing times, which limits their rapid deployment. Herein, a rapidly deployable bio-based organic hydrogel coating, denoted as HP hydrogel, was fabricated at room temperature through electrostatic self-assembly between quaternized chitosan (HTCC) and sodium phytate (PA-Na). The optimized coating could be directly applied onto cotton fabrics after fast gelation, combining water retention, substrate adhesion, flame retardancy, and short-term thermal shielding. PA-Na promoted the thermal degradation regulation and char-forming ability of the HTCC network, enabling the coated cotton fabric to reach a limiting oxygen index of 31%. Micro-combustion calorimetry showed that the H1P1 hydrogel reduced the peak heat release rate and total heat release by 32.9% and 34.4%, respectively, compared with the PA-Na-free hydrogel. Residual char analyses confirmed the formation of a compact phosphorus-containing carbonaceous layer, indicating a dominant condensed-phase flame-retardant mechanism. In direct-flame thermal protection tests, the H1P1 hydrogel protected skin-surrogate tissue for 120 s under exposure to a 1300 °C flame, while maintaining the subcutaneous temperature below 55 °C. This work presents a simple and rapidly applicable bio-based hydrogel coating strategy for improving the flame retardancy and short-term fire protection of cellulose-based textiles.