Fire Retardant Veil Composition for Self-Extinguishing Composites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft composite materials face challenges in achieving rapid self-extinguishing capabilities, reduced toxic gas emissions, and compliance with stringent flammability regulations during fires, which are critical for ensuring passenger safety.
Innovation Solution
A fire retardant veil is integrated between prepreg layers of composite materials, composed of intermingled fibers and fire retardant particles, providing enhanced fire retardancy and self-extinguishing properties while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional composite materials are used in aircraft, then structural strength and weight efficiency are improved, but fire safety and self-extinguishing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining traditional reinforcement fibers (carbon, glass, or aramid) with fire retardant particles (ammonium polyphosphate, melamine cyanurate, aluminum hydroxide, or alumina trihydrate) within a polymer matrix. This composite structure maintains the high strength-to-weight ratio of conventional composites while the fire retardant particles provide flame inhibition and self-extinguishing capability, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and fire safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by strategically distributing fire retardant particles throughout the polymer matrix and at fiber-matrix interfaces. The fire retardant particles are dispersed to create localized zones of flame inhibition without compromising the overall structural integrity. This localized approach ensures fire safety in critical areas while preserving the mechanical properties of the composite material.
2Reliability
If fire retardant particles are added to composite materials, then self-extinguishing capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and particle dispersion control worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the particle size distribution (0.1 to 10 micrometers), particle concentration (1-50 weight percent), and surface treatment of fire retardant particles to enhance dispersion and flame inhibition. By carefully controlling these parameters, the patent achieves effective self-extinguishing capability while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized processing techniques.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fire retardant particles are added to composite materials, then toxic gas emissions are reduced, but manufacturing precision and particle distribution control worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the polymer matrix as an intermediary medium to facilitate uniform distribution of fire retardant particles. The matrix acts as a carrier that prevents particle aggregation and ensures homogeneous dispersion throughout the composite material. This intermediary approach enables precise control over particle distribution while achieving reduced toxic gas emissions through the fire retardant particles' flame inhibition properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire retardant veil (10) composed of intermingled, randomly arranged fibres and fire retardant particles (11) dispersed throughout the nonwoven structure of the veil (10). The veil (10) further includes a small amount of a polymeric or resinous binder for binding the fibres and the particles together. Such fire retardant veil (10) can be incorporated into composite laminates, prepregs, and fibrous preforms (12) configured for liquid resin infusion.