Recent advances in fire‐retardant polymers and composites

The utilisation of rice husk ash (RHA) as an aluminosilicate source in fire-resistant coating could reduce environmental pollution and can turn agricultural waste into industrial wealth. The overall objective of this research is to develop a rice-husk-ash-based geopolymer binder (GB) fire-retardant additive (FR) for alkyd paint. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiments work, on the ratio of RHA-based GB to alkyd paint. The microstructure behaviour and material characterisation of the coating samples were studied through SEM analysis. The optimal RHA-based GB FR additive was formulated at 50% wt. FR and 82.628% wt. paint. This formulation showed the result of 270 s to reach 200 °C and 276 °C temperature at equilibrium for thermal properties. Furthermore, it was observed that the increased contents of RHA showed an increment in terms of the total and open porosities and rough surfaces, in which the number of pores on the coating surface plays an important role in the formation of the intumescent char layer. By developing the optimum RHA-based GB to paint formulation, the coating may potentially improve building fire safety through passive fire protection.

Download Full-text

The Performance of Filava-Polysiloxane, Silres® H62C Composite in High Temperature Application

Journal of Composites Science ◽

10.3390/jcs5060144 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 144

Author(s):

Klaudio Bari ◽

Thozhuvur Govindaraman Loganathan

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Flexural Strength ◽

Flexural Modulus ◽

Fire Retardant ◽

Bending Test ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Flexural Testing ◽

Temperature Application ◽

High Temperature Tensile ◽

In Fire

The research aim is to investigate the performance of novel enriched mineral fibres (Filava) in polysiloxane SLIRES H62 resin. Specimens were manufactured using a vacuum bagging process and oven cured at 250 °C. Specimens were prepared for flexural testing according to BS EN ISO 14125:1998 to obtain flexural strength, modulus, and elongation. The mechanical strength was compared to similar composites, with the aim of determining composite performance index. The flexural modulus (9.7 GPa), flexural strength (83 MPa), and flexural strain (2.9%) were obtained from a three-point bending test. In addition, the study investigates the thermal properties of the composite using a state-of-art Zwick Roell high temperature tensile rig. The results showed Filava/Polysiloxane Composites had an ultimate tensile strength 400 MPa, Young’s modulus 16 GPa and strain 2.5% at 1000 °C, and no smoke and ash were observed during pyrolysis. Ongoing research is currently taking place to use Filava-H62 in fire-retardant enclosure for lithium-ferro-phosphate Batteries used in electric trucks.

Download Full-text