Layer-by-Layer Assembly: A Novel Flame-Retardant Solution to Polymeric Materials.

Among the different surface engineered strategies, the layer-by-layer (LbL) approach is recently gaining an increase in interest from the academic world, as it is quite a simple process that exploits the possibility to combine oppositely charged layers (consisting of either polyelectrolytes or nanoparticles) in a nano- to micro-assembly. According to the composition of this latter, it is easy and possible to provide the underlying substrate with such peculiar features as flame retardancy, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, electrical conductivity, anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, the polyelectrolyte solutions or nanoparticle suspensions are much diluted aqueous media: this makes the process very attractive also from an environmental point of view.