Low Cost Self-Extinguishing Polymers for Advanced Navy Composites

Triton Systems, Inc. will prepare new flame resistant composite coupons that will be cost effective, easily processble, and higher performance relative to state of the art Navy composites. They will maintain performance at temperatures over 500 _F, and will have a high ash content, release no toxic gases, and have reduced smoke upon pyrolysis. The new composite coupons will be based on a new self-extinguishing organic polymer matrix that has been in production for four years at Triton Systems for high-performance space applications. The Phase I program will develop improved thermoplastic composites with higher Tg, higher flame resistance and competative mechanical properties relative to the state of the art Navy organic matrices. A new route to a thermoset polymer utilizing an innovative additive chemistry and the Triton self extinguishing polymer will also be demonstrated. The Phase I program will lead to scale-up production of advanced flame resistant composite materials in Phase II, utilizing Triton Systems infrastructure that is already in place for similar polymer materials.