Effect of nanoclays on the fire perfomance of natural fiber composites

E.S.RODRIGUEZ; L. B. MANFREDI; M. WLADYKA-PRZYBYLAK; A. VÁZQUEZ

Santiago de Compostela

Conferencia; Fifth Nanofun-poly Short Course and First Young Polymer Scientist Conference; 2007

Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

The aim of this work is to study the fire resistance and smoke evolution of jute reinforced composites using different thermoset and nanoreinforced matrices. The performance of a jute reinforced phenolic resin was characterized and compared with that of a composite with vinylester, which is the commonly used matrix. Additionally, clay was added to the phenolic matrix in order to enhance their properties. The jute-reinforced composites with resol and nanocomposite matrices showing an improvement in the fire performance in comparison with that obtained with vinyl ester resin, which is more commonly used. It was observed lower fire risk and lower evolution of CO and smoke in the resol composites (with and without nanoreinforcement). The incorporation of nanoclay to the resol produced a decrease in the peak of HRR (fire spread), but did not affect the fire load and the ignitiability of the material.