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Composites in Fire and Flame
(2022)
Overview over the research results of the BAM in the field fire retardancy of composites. In different applications the flame retardancy of composites targets on different fire protection goals in the fire scenarios ignition, developing fire, and fully developed fire. Efficient solutions are tailored to pass a distinct fire test and to fit to a specific material. Flame inhibition as main flame retardancy mode of action combined with a minor mode of action in the condensed phase is general very efficient approach for composites. Alternatively residue design is demanded to achieve good results with only condensed phase mechanisms. Improving the fire stability asks for protective fire residues.
Fire resistance testing of components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) usually demands intermediate-scale or full-scale testing. A bench-scale test is presented as a practicable and efficient method to assess how different fire protective systems improve the structural integrity of CFRPs during fire. The direct flame of a fully developed fire was applied to one side of the CFRP specimen, which was simultaneously loaded with compressive force. Three different approaches (film, non-woven, and coatings) were applied: paper with a thickness in the range of μm consisting of cellulose nanofibre (CNF)/clay nanocomposite, nonwoven mats with thickness in the range of cm and intumescent coatings with a thickness in the range of mm. The uncoated specimen failed after just 17 s. Protection by these systems provides fire stability, as they multiply the time to failure by as much as up to 43 times. The reduced heating rates of the protected specimens demonstrate the reduced heat penetration, indicating the coatings’ excellent heat shielding properties. Bench-scale fire stability testing is shown to be suitable tool to identify, compare and assess different approaches to fire protection.
Carbon fibre (CF) and glass fibre (GF) reinforced polymers are used for diverse applications demaning flame and fire retardancy in the fire scenarios ignition, developing fire and fully developed fire. The fire behaviour of composites differs from polymers, since fibres behave often inert with respect to pyrolysis, change the melt flow / dripping behaviour, the heat absorption and transfer, the amount and properties of the fire residue. Concepts are needed suitable for the different fire protection goals, but also tailored for composites. The field is illuminated by examples carried out in the group of the author in the recent years. Approaches to halogen-free flame retardancy in GF reinforced thermoplastics and CF reinforced thermosets are presented as well as building up a bench and intermediate scale testing of composites in fire applying mechanical load and direct flame exposure simultaneously. The understanding of fire behaviour and flame retardancy modes of action in composites is a promising basis for target-oriented development.
The fire behaviour of carbon fibre (CF) reinforced polymers differs in comparison to polymers. Fibres behave often inert with respect to pyrolysis, they change the melt flow and dripping behaviour, the heat absorption and transfer, the amount and properties of the fire residue and so on. Flame and fire retardancy concepts are needed not only suitable for the different fire protection goals typical for each application, but also tailored for composites. This field is illuminated by examples taken from different projects carried out in the group of the author in the recent years. The examples target on different applications through achieving reduction in reaction to fire controlling the fire risks (flammability, heat release) in the beginning and development of a fire and investigating the fire stability, when a severe flame is directly applied (key property in fully developed fires). Approaches to halogen-free flame retardancy in CF reinforced thermosets are presented as well as building up a bench and an intermediate scale testing of composites in fire applying mechanical load (up to 1 MN compression) and direct flame exposure (180 kW/m2) simultaneously. Indeed, e.g. we have investigated the fire stability of stringer reinforced shell components taken out from the fuselage of an aircraft.
The understanding of fire behaviour, fire resistance, and fire retardant modes of action in composites is a promising basis for target-oriented development. The role of flame inhibition, charring, and protective layer formation is discussed. Successful concepts are presented for fire retardancy tailored for different application as well as general guidelines for future development. Different phosphorus flame retardants are proposed to achieve halogen-free flame retardancy with respect to ignition and developing fires. Different protective approaches are sketched for addressing the fire stability of composites that is the most important fire risk for the fire resistance in structural applications.
The fire stability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) shell structures was investigated using an intermediate-scale test setup. The shell specimens are representative of typical load-bearing CFRPs in modern civil aviation. The CFRP shell specimens were exposed to a fully developed fire with direct flame impingement to one side at a heat flux of 182 kW/m2. Specimens were simultaneously loaded with constant compressive force equal to 40% of the ultimate failure load. CFRP shells and four different fire retarding configurations, using integrated protective layers, were investigated. Unprotected CFRP specimens failed after just 27 s. Specimens with integrated protective layers with low heat conductivity and high burn-through resistance showed the most promising results. An integrated titanium foil decelerated the decomposition of the epoxy matrix and increased the time to failure by 68% compared to the unprotected CFRP shell.
The fire resistance of load-bearing composite components, e.g. sandwich panels in transportation or stringer reinforced shells used for fuselages, differs in comparison to metal systems. Fibres behave rather inert with respect to pyrolysis reducing burn-through phenomena. The fire stability becomes the main task, because it already breaks down when reaching the softening temperature of the matrix. Fire protection concepts are needed based on efficient thermal insulation and tailored for composite structures.
The fire behaviour of fibre reinforced polymeric composites differs in comparison to polymers. Fibres behave often inert with respect to pyrolysis, they change dripping behaviour, the heat absorption and transfer, the amount and properties of the fire residue and so on. Their fire behaviour becomes somewhat singular. The fire resistance of load-bearing composite components, e.g. sandwich panels for transportation or stringer reinforced shells used for fuselages in aviation, differs in comparison to metal systems. Not burn-through, but the fire stability is typical critical mode of failure. The mechanical failure in fully developed fires can not be explained by the mechanical properties at room temperature, but are controlled by the decomposition and even more important by the softening of the matrix. Fire retardancy concepts are needed based on efficient thermal insulation and tailored for composites. This field is illuminated by examples taken from different projects carried out in the group of the presenting author in the recent years,[1-5] and still running unpublished activities as well. The fire stability is investigated for realistic compression loads, when a severe flame is directly applied (key property in fully developed fires). A bench scale specimen (specimen 150 mm x 150 mm, plates, sandwich, shells) and an intermediate scale (specimen 500 mm x 500 mm, plates, sandwich, shells) fire stability testing was performed. Indeed, e.g. we have investigated the fire stability of stringer reinforced shell components taken out from the fuselage of an aircraft. We applied mechanical load up to 233 kN and 1 MN in the bench-scale and intermediate-scale testing, respectively, and direct flame exposure using burners (180 kW/m2) simultaneously.
The understanding of the fire resistance and fire protection modes of action in composite and composite components is a promising basis for target-oriented development. The role of the fire residue, protective layer formation, and the design of the components is discussed. Successful concepts are presented for increasing the fire resistance of load-bearing composite components as well as general guidelines for future development.
Fire stability of glass-fibre sandwich panels: The influence of core materials and flame retardants
(2017)
Fire resistance has become a key property for structural lightweight sandwich components in aviation, shipping, railway vehicles, and construction. The development of future composite materials and components demands adequate test procedures for simultaneous application of compression and fully developed fire. Therefore an intermediate-scale approach (specimen size = 500 mm x 500 mm) is applied with compressive loads (up to 1 MN) and direct application of a burner to one side of the specimens, as established in aviation for severe burn-through tests. The influence of different core structures (polyvinylchloride foam, polyisocyanorate foam reinforced by stitched glass bridges, and balsa wood) was investigated for glass-fibre-reinforced sandwich specimens with and without flame retardants applied on the fabrics, in the matrix, and on surface for each specimen at the same time. Times to failure were increased up to a factor of 4. The intumescent coating prolongs the time to failure significantly.
What is more, using the intrinsic potential of the front skin together with the core to protect a load bearing back skin in sandwich panels, the design of the core – here using the wood core – is the most promising approach.
The fire behaviour of light-weight material used in structural applications is regarded as the main challenge to be solved for mass transportation. The task is to perform realistic experiments, including a mechanical test scenario under fully developed fires, to improve the material's reliability in structural applications. Our approach utilises an intermediate-scale test set-up (specimen size 500 × 500 mm) to apply realistic compressive loads and fully developed fires directly to one side of a carbon-fibre-reinforced sandwich composite. Three different intumescent coatings were applied to sandwich structures and compared to a bench-scale study. The results emphasise intumescent coatings as a promising method to sustain fire resistance, multiplying the time to failure. Nevertheless, the realistic intermediate-scale test using severe direct flame application underlines the extremely short failure times when the actual composite components are tested without any additional insulation.