Thermal Stability, Fire Performance, and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibre Fabric-Reinforced Polymer Composites with Different Fire Retardants

Abstract

In this study, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and aluminum hydroxide (ALH) with different mass contents were used as fire retardants (FRs) on plant-based natural flax fabric-reinforced polymer (FFRP) composites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limited oxygen index (LOI), and the Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-94 horizontal and vertical tests were carried out for evaluating the effectiveness of these FR treatments. Flat-coupon tensile test was performed to evaluate the effects of FR treatment on the mechanical properties of the FFRP composites. For both fire retardants, the results showed that the temperature of the thermal decomposition and the LOI values of the composites increased as the FR content increases. Under the UL-94 vertical test, the FFRP composites with 20% and 30% APP (i.e., by mass content of epoxy polymer matrix) were self-extinguished within 30 and 10 s following the removal of the flame without any burning drops, respectively. However, the mechanical tensile tests showed that the APP treated FFRP composites reduced their elastic modulus and strength up to 24% and 18%, respectively. Scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) for morphology examination showed an effective coating of the flax fibres with the FRs, which improved the flame retardancy of the treated composites.

Structural Behavior Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Using the Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strengthening Method

“…The advantages of FRCs over unreinforced materials are well known and their characteristics are useful in many areas. FRC applications are being increasingly researched in the fields of aerospace, medicine, and construction science [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. FRP composite, including fibrous porous media, has been widely used in many fields of life.…”

Development and Characterization of Palm Flower Carbon Reinforced DOPO‐Urea Diamine Based Cardanol Benzoxazine‐Epoxy Hybrid Composites

“…Further, the contact angle values of DUDCBz-EP matrix and f-PFC/DUDCBz-EP composites were statistically analyzed by applying t-test in accordance with the previous reports [48][49][50][51]. T-Test was calculated by computation method and results of the t-test were compared between the DUDCBz-EP matrix and various weight percentages of (1, 3, and 5 wt%) f-PFC/DUDCBz-EP composites ( Table 2).…”

Fire-Safe Polymer Composites: Flame-Retardant Effect of Nanofillers

“…UL 94 testing is also widely used in both industrial and academic research with an aim to categorize polymer materials hierarchically and meet industrial requirements [ 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 ]. Nevertheless, the information thus obtained is limited due to its basic and unfixed nature.…”