Flammability Index of Nigeria Agro Waste Processed With Polymer and Gum Arabic Hybridized Flame Retardants for Building Applications

Abstract

Agro waste polymer composite (AWPC) comprising agro waste as reinforcement and polymer as the matrix is known to contribute additional fuel load when exposed to heat sources owing to their constituent make up. This has restricted their use in areas where strict compliance to fire regulations does exist. GA was mixed with flame retardants (FR) such as aluminium tri-hydroxide, ammonium polyphosphate, and carbon black at 0%, 12%, 15%, and 18% loading proportion, and these were then used to fabricate the AWPC using hand lay-up and compression moulding. The AWPC were tested for flammability properties in the cone calorimeter apparatus at 50kW/m2. Flammability properties such as time to ignition, heat released rates, mass loss rates, and smoke production rates obtained showed the AWPC processed with GA hybridized FR were greatly improved when compared to those without FR. Therefore, GA addition in AWPC proved to be a good FR that could be used in building applications to meet required fire safety standards.