Abstract
BackgroundLately, thermoplastic and thermoset polymers are integrated with natural fillers to harvest composites. Due to an excellent property profile, these composites find wide applications in engineering fields. This research work aimed to investigate the parameters that influence the thermal degradation of Polyester-Banana peduncle fibre-reinforced composite incorporated with cow horn ash particle (CHAp) as a fire retardant additive and optimize the total heat produced for the smaller the better. The major instruments used in this study were cone calorimeter and the thermogravimetric analyser.ResultThe parameters considered were time, reinforcement type, and weight per cent of reinforcement material. The composites were made by varying the ratios of CHAp and BPF in the polyester matrix from 0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5 and 7.5:7.5 and 10:10 weight per cent. The flammability properties of the developed composites were examined, using a cone calorimeter. The controlling parameters were analysed using the Taguchi robust design method. The ANOVA showed that time had the greatest influence on the total heat release rate (81.72%). The weight per cent reinforcement type (10.37%) and reinforcement type (5.28%) had smaller influences on the heat release rate. The S/N ratio obtained, using optimal testing shows that time had the greatest influence on the total heat release rate, followed by weight per cent of reinforcement type, while reinforcement type had the least influence. The corresponding multiple regression models for total heat released revealed that the total heat release rate increased with an increase in time and reinforcement type and decreased with an increase in weight per cent of the fire retardant additive material.ConclusionThis work indicated that the parameter design of the Taguchi method provided an efficient methodology for the analyses of the effects of thermal degradation parameters of composites. The controlling parameters of time, the weight of reinforcement material and the type of reinforcement material had significant contributions to the value of heat production during composites thermal decomposition. Time had the greatest contribution, followed by the weight of reinforcement type, and type of reinforcement material.
Highlights
Thermoplastic and thermoset polymers are integrated with natural fillers to harvest composites
As stated by Nawaz (2011), when composites are used in structural applications such as aircraft, the combustion process poses a high risk; the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforces strict fire regulations on materials used in passenger aircraft, within the cabin
The HRR peak value of the composites decreased as the percentage cow horn ash particle (CHAp) addition increased
Summary
Thermoplastic and thermoset polymers are integrated with natural fillers to harvest composites. Ezeh B ulletin of the National Research Centre (2021) 45:195 other items Their weight savings are quite significant compared to structures made from metal, such as ships and aircraft (Nawaz 2011). The design disadvantages of using composites include high material and production costs, anisotropic properties of the material and low resistance to impact damage. Another problem with using composites instead of metals is their high flammability and low resistance to fire. Most thermoset and thermoplastic composites do not meet the low flammability and toxicity criteria for smoke in such a way that flame retardant epoxies and polymers with lower flammability can be used, but these bring additional costs and, in most cases, poorer mechanical properties (Mouritz and Gibson 2006)
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