Inflammability of GFRP composite with the addition of aluminum tri-hydroxide, boric acid, and sodium silicate

Along with the increasing use of polymer composite products, the technical requirements are demanded to meet the requirements for better strength and fire resistance. This study aims to investigate the flame resistance of GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics) composite with the addition of aluminum tri-hydroxide (ATH), boric acid (BA), and sodium silicate (SS) fillers. The composite was produced by hand layup method and the fillers were varied based on weight fraction of the fillers to the polyester matrix. All specimens were conducted the burning test according to ASTM D 635. The result shows that the burning rate of the composite decreases from 0.32 to 0.04 mm/sec due to the addition of 20% ATH and 10% of BA. The addition of 20% ATH and 10% Na2SiO3 is also reduce the burning rate become 0.053 mm/sec.