- Author
-
Tewarson, A.
- Title
- Flammability Characteristics of Glass Reinforced Epoxy Composite Materials. Final Report. October 1990-December 1991.
- Coporate
- Factory Mutual Research Corp., Norwood, MA
- Sponsor
- Army Materials Technology Lab., Watertown, MA
- Report
-
MTL TR 92-8
February 1992
19 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- DAAL04-90-M-0746
- Keywords
-
epoxy resins
|
composite materials
|
flammability
- Abstract
- Fiber reinforced composite (FRC) materials are used extensively because of their favorable physico-chemical properties and high strength-to-weight ratio. The use of composites in Army vehicles as a means of decreasing weight and enhancing survivability, without reducing personnel safety, has been under study for some time. Although FRM materials are very attractive in terms of their physico-chemical properties, concern for possible fire hazards is understandable, as organic polymers are a major constituent of the materials. This report presents flammability evaluation results for three FRC materials (MTL #6 to #7). In this evaluation, the latest technology developed at Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) was used. In comparison to ordinary combustibles, such as cellulosics and most non-fire retarded plastics, the three FRC materials have higher resistance to ignition and flame propagation. In comparison to the FRC materials (MTL #1 to #5) investigated in the previous study for the Army Materials Technology Lab., the three FRC materials were found to ignite more easily, and flame propagated beyond the ignition zone. Also, these three materials generated significantly higher amounts of material vapors, CO, smoke and heat than the materials examined earlier (MTL #1 to #5). Thus passive fire protection is required for these materials. This protection can be provided by surface coatings or by surface lamintion using highly fire resistant FRC materials such as the fiberglass phenolic examined in the previous study. The Halon 1301 flame extinction data for the samples were found to be consistent with the design of the current suppression system for the crew compartment of Army combat vehicles. It is strongly recommended that the scientifically based FIRE PROPAGTION INDEX (FPI) concept, developed at Factory Mutual Research Corporation, be adopted for the realistic flammability evaluation and screening of FRC materials for Army applications.