- Author
- Morchat, R. M.
- Title
- Effects of Alumina Trihydrate on the Flammability Characteristics of Polyester, Vinyl Ester and Epoxy Glass Reinforced Plastics. Technical Memorandum.
- Coporate
- Defence Research Establishment Atlantic, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Report
- DREA-TM-91/214, December 1991, 23 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- polyesters | esters | reinforced plastics | glass | fire retardants | flammability | oxygen index | flame spread | smoke generation | additives | combustion | toxic gases
- Identifiers
- alumina trihydrate
- Abstract
- The effects of an inorganic fire-retardant additive, alumina trihydrate, on flammability characteristics and smoke generation of glass reinforced polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resins were evaluated. Information is presented on the flame spread index (ASTM E162), limiting oxygen index (ASTM D2863), density of smoke generated (ASTM E662) and toxic gases of combustion (Boeing BSS 7239). Results indicated that the addition of fire-retardant additive to the polymeric materials significantly decreased the flame spread index and increased the limiting oxygen index; however, the amount of smoke generated during pyrolytic and flaming combustion was high and unacceptable. Finally, the toxic gas evolution data indicated that the threshold limit values for some gases were exceeded.