Effect of ammonium polyphosphate on fire‐retardant, mechanical, and vibrational analysis of epoxy/glass/ramie hybrid composite

Abstract

AbstractHybrid polymer composites (synthetic and/or natural fiber) are highly prominent in the fields of automotive, aerospace, construction, and marine. This work aims at developing a novel epoxy/glass/ramie (EGR) hybrid composite incorporated with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) using a vacuum bag technique, thus by changing the weight percentage of APP. The hybrid composites were characterized for the fire‐retardant (vertical and horizontal burning test), mechanical (hardness, tensile, and flexural testing), wettability, porosity (ethanol infiltration), and vibrational properties. The flammability data show that the hybrid composites made of 10, 15, and 20 weight percentages of APP obtained V‐1, V‐0, and V‐0 grades in the UL‐94 vertical burning test. Furthermore, there is an enhancement in hardness properties, but it reduces the tensile and flexural strength. However, the integration of APP reduces the water absorption rate of the composite from 11% to 5%. This study found that APP‐reinforced EGR hybrid composite improves fire resistance, thereby reducing the water absorption rate, which hikes the usage of the material for structural application.