A　novel　intumescent　flame　retardant　(IFR),　melamine　modified　enzymatic　hydrolysis　lignin　(MEHL),　was　synthesized　and　well　characterized　by　FTIR　and　TGA.　The　results　showed　that　the　decompose　temperature　of　MEHL　is　much　higher　than　that　of　enzymatic　hydrolysis　lignin　(EHL).　In　order　to　improve　flame　retardancy　and　dripping　resistance　of　EPDM,　MEHL　and　microencapsulated　red　phosphorus　(MRP)　were　added　into　EPDM　as　IFR　system.　The　flame　ability　and　thermal　stability　of　IFR　and　EPDM　composites　were　investigated　by　UL-94　vertical　burning　test　and　LOI　measurements.　The　results　indicated　that　FV-0　was　reached　and　the　LOI　value　was　35　when　per　hundred　rubber　(phr)　together　with　12　phr　MRP　and　50　phr　EHLM　were　added.　SEM　photos　showed　that　the　char　residue　was　continuous,　and　a　barrier　between　flame　and　rubber　was　formed,　while　there　were　also　small　holes　in　its　surfaces.　On　all　accounts,　EHL　used　as　a　carbonization　agent　instead　of　petroleum　chemicals,　such　as　pentaerythritol,　was　more　environmental　friendly　and　beneficial　to　economy.　©　(2011)　Trans　Tech　Publications.