Abstract
AbstractA cone calorimeter is used to determine the fire performance of polymer composite materials containing combustible reinforcing fibres in addition to combustible matrix resins. Extended‐chain polyethylene and aramid fibre‐reinforced composites containing epoxy, vinylester and phenolic matrix resins are examined at various cone irradiances. Values for time to ignition, rate of heat release, effective heat of combustion, smoke density and evolved carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are reported for the reinforcements, matrix resins and composites. The reinforcements have a significant effect on the fire‐hazard properties of the composite materials. For the epoxy and vinylester composites, times to ignition reflect those of the component of higher ignitability. This was not the case for the aramid‐reinforced phenolic composite, in which the resin surface layer hinders combustion of the fabric reinforcement. Resin and reinforcement contributions to the composite rate of heat release behaviour as a function of time are generally discernible.
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