Fire Protective Surface Coating Containing Nanoparticles for Marine Composite Laminates

Abstract

A poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based coating containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and sepiolite nanofillers (SP) and supported by a glass fabric was developed to fire-protect a glass-fiber-reinforced unsaturated-polyester-based (UP) polymer (GFRP). The fire behavior and thermal stability of the PVA coatings were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a cone calorimeter. The coatings’ residues were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results from the cone calorimeter showed that the addition of sepiolite significantly improves the flame retardancy of PVA/APP/SP coatings. The addition of both additives promoted the formation of a cohesive layer composed of a silico-phosphate structure resulting from the reactivity between APP and SP. The fire resistance of the composite laminate protected by PVA coatings was evaluated using a cone calorimeter by measuring the temperature of the back face. Photogrammetry was used to assess the swelling of residues after heat exposure. The interaction between APP and SP in PVA coating leads to the formation of an effective thermal barrier layer. The presence of SP reduces the layer expansion but greatly decreases the backside temperature during the initial period of exposure. The effect was assigned to high thermal stability of the layer and its ability to dissipate heat by re-radiation.

Fire behaviour of EPDM/NBR panels with paraffin for thermal energy storage applications. Part 1: Fire behaviour

“…The positive effect of AP766 with inorganic or organic additives in thermal degradation and its role as flame retardant has been also confirmed and described in literature [86][87][88][89].…”

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“…apparel to halt flames or decrease the temperature to a satisfactory level for the human body when exposed to fire [43]. The enhancement of composites' fire resistance properties leads to a decrease in mechanical strength in most cases and a consequent reduction in the life expectancy of the substrate [44].…”

Tribological performance of functional coated fiber reinforced additively manufactured polymer composite

“…Ceramic particle coating on polymer composites increases the bending strength of the ceramic body, improving the mechanical strength of the material. The application of ceramic particle coating enhances the thermal stability of polymer composites during the firing process [28]. Ceramic polymer composites retain the soft texture, flexibility, and easy-to-form properties of the polymer, but rapidly transform into a ceramic state when exposed to flames or high temperatures, rendering them resistant to fire.…”