Fire-retardant composite materials

摘要

A prepreg for the manufacture of a fibre-reinforced composite material having fire retardant properties, the prepreg comprising an epoxide resin matrix system and fibrous reinforcement wherein the epoxide resin matrix system comprises the components: (a) a mixture of at least one epoxide containing resin and at least one catalyst for curing the epoxide-containing resin and (b) a plurality of solid fillers for providing fire resistant properties to the fibre-reinforced composite material formed after catalytic curing of the at least one epoxide-containing resin. The fibre reinforcement comprises a fabric ply, preferably satin-woven ply, comprising interwoven glass fibres and carbon fibres. Preferably the prepreg comprises 35-50 wt% epoxide matrix and 50-5 wt% of fibre reinforcement. The preferred fire-retardant fillers are ammonium monophosphate or polyphosphate, metal borates or silicates, glass beads, intercalated graphite or melamine. Fire-resistant panels and methods for making said panels are also disclosed.