Self-Extinguishing Resin Transfer Molding Composites Using Non-Fire-Retardant Epoxy Resin
Zhi Geng,
Shuaishuai Yang,
Lianwang Zhang,
Zhenzhen Huang,
Qichao Pan,
Jidi Li,
Jianan Weng,
Jianwen Bao,
Zhengwei You,
Yong He,
Bo Zhu
Affiliations
Zhi Geng
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Shuaishuai Yang
SAMAC Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Shangfei Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201324, China
Lianwang Zhang
Avic Advanced Composites Center, Shijun South Street, Aviation Industrial Park, Shunyi, Beijing 101300, China
Zhenzhen Huang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan, Shanghai 200444, China
Qichao Pan
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Jidi Li
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan, Shanghai 200444, China
Jianan Weng
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan, Shanghai 200444, China
Jianwen Bao
Avic Advanced Composites Center, Shijun South Street, Aviation Industrial Park, Shunyi, Beijing 101300, China
Zhengwei You
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Yong He
Collaborative Innovation Center for Civil Aviation Composites, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Bo Zhu
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, 333 Nanchen Road, Baoshan, Shanghai 200444, China
Introducing fire-retardant additives or building blocks into resins is a widely adopted method used for improving the fire retardancy of epoxy composites. However, the increase in viscosity and the presence of insoluble additives accompanied by resin modification remain challenges for resin transfer molding (RTM) processing. We developed a robust approach for fabricating self-extinguishing RTM composites using unmodified and flammable resins. To avoid the effects on resin fluidity and processing, we loaded the flame retardant into tackifiers instead of resins. We found that the halogen-free flame retardant, a microencapsulated red phosphorus (MRP) additive, was enriched on fabric surfaces, which endowed the composites with excellent fire retardancy. The composites showed a 79.2% increase in the limiting oxygen index, a 29.2% reduction in heat release during combustion, and could self-extinguish within two seconds after ignition. Almost no effect on the mechanical properties was observed. This approach is simple, inexpensive, and basically applicable to all resins for fabricating RTM composites. This approach adapts insoluble flame retardants to RTM processing. We envision that this approach could be extended to load other functions (radar absorbing, conductivity, etc.) into RTM composites, broadening the application of RTM processing in the field of advanced functional materials.
