Zinc-based compounds as smoke suppressant agents for an aerospace epoxy matrix

Smoke is considered to be the main hazard of fires involving epoxy resins but its production depends on many variables, principally the chemical character and the burning rate of the polymer plus the availability of oxygen. The work reported aimed to study the smoke suppressant effect and flammability performance of zinc-based compounds (FR system) in epoxy matrix composites used in the aerospace and aeronautical industry. The flammability performance of neat and FR-loaded systems was screened using microcombustion calorimetry, while smoke generation, in terms of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, was analysed under dynamic conditions using cone calorimetry. Final results indicate that the dispersion of zinc borate and zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS) into epoxy matrices leads to a significant variation in flame retardant properties reducing both total heat release by about 25 and 30%, respectively, and heat release capacity by about 30 and 50%, respectively. The system containing ZHS shows an enhancement in all smoke suppressant properties; both tin compounds (zinc stannate (ZS) and ZHS) give a reduction of CO2/CO ratio from 41 to 25 for ZS and from 41 to 36 for ZHS compared to neat matrix. (C) 2010 Society of Chemical Industry