Abstract
The effects of matrices from co-cured blends of an unsaturated polyester (UP) with inherently fire-retardant and char-forming phenolic resoles (PH) on the mechanical and fire performances of resultant glass fibre-reinforced composites have been investigated. Three different phenolic resoles with increasing order of compatibility with UP have been used. These are: (i) an ethanol soluble resin, (PH–S), (ii) an epoxy-functionalised resin (PH-Ep), and (iii) an allyl-functionalised resin (PH–Al). The mechanical properties of the composites increased with increasing compatibility with two resin types as might be expected, but not previously demonstrated. However, even with the least compatible resin (PH–S), the impact properties were unaffected and the flexural/tensile properties while reduced, were still acceptable for certain applications. Fire properties were however, in reverse order as previously observed in cast resin samples from these composites. Moreover, the reduction in flammability was less compared to those of the cast resin samples, reported previously, explained here based on the insulating effect of glass fibre reinforcement.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 107607 |
Journal | Composites Part B: Engineering |
Volume | 182 |
Early online date | 21 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2020 |
Bibliographical note
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Composites Part B: Engineering. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Composites Part B: Engineering, 182, (2020)DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107607
© 2020, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Funder
Funding Information: UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Grant No. EP/H020675/1Keywords
- Fire properties
- Glass fibres
- Mechanical properties
- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering