Enhancement of Passive Fire Protection Ability of Inorganic Fire Retardants in Vinyl Ester Resin Using Glass Frit Synergists

摘要

Two types of glass frit samples, XF100 and XF105 (Johnson Matthey), in combination with conventional inorganic flame retardants, Ultracarb (mixture of huntite and hydromagnesite) and alumina trihydrate, were introduced into a thermoset vinyl ester resin. The methodology involved dispersing glass additives with other two flame retardants in different ratios in a vinyl ester resin and casting into plaques. Thermal stability and flammability of the samples studied by thermogravimetry, LOI and UL-94, indicated that the presence of glass frit increased the char yield and reduced the burning rate of the resin sample. The results from cone calorimetry at 50 kW/m2 heat flux showed that both glass frits, XF100 and XF105, improved the effectiveness of Ultracarb and alumina trihydrate, respectively by increasing the time-to-ignition, reducing total heat release values, and char formation, only when they were used in low amounts in the combinations. However, they did not help in reducing the respective peak of heat release rates, indicating their passive fire protection mechanism.