Hybrid Materials for Fire Resistant Composites

Lightweight structural materials must retain strength under fire exposure and must be made from non-flammable or flame retardant materials to limit fire spread and smoke. Significant advantages in mobility and efficiency can be achieved by identifying a material system that is lightweight, fire resistant and has sufficient strength for use in tactical shelters and other structures. Fiber reinforced polymer composites are well known for high strength and stiffness to weight ratios allowing for structures considerably lighter than steel and even aluminum. In this Phase I SBIR program, Luna Innovations will develop a pultruded fiber reinforced polymer, FRP, composite with high temperature strength and fire resistance using Luna's novel flame retardant technology. The flame retardant technology is based on a hybrid of inexpensive inorganic materials dispersed within a compatibilizing organic matrix allowing incorporation into thermoset resin systems.