Is expanded graphite acting as flame retardant in epoxy resin?

Authors

A. Laachachi, N. Burger, K. Apaydin, R. Sonnier, and M. Ferriol

Reference

Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 117, pp. 22-29, 2015

Description

In this study, expanded graphite (EG) was investigated as flame retardant for epoxy resin based on DGEBA. Various amounts of EG (up to 50 wt%) were incorporated into the epoxy and the composites were studied using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electronic microscopy, cone calorimeter, pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, instrumented epiradiator and laser-flash method. Quite unexpectedly, EG leads to a significant increase in pHRR in cone calorimeter tests. Nevertheless, EG also allows delaying strongly the time-to-ignition. Such behavior was assigned mainly to the increase in thermal diffusivity which allows transferring heat faster from the surface to the bulk.

Link

doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.03.016