Novel Low Cost Fire Resistant Composite for VARTM

Triton Systems proposes to develop a low cost organic composite which meets the fire and toxicity requirements of MIL-STD-2031, possesses mechanical properties similar to standard vinyl ester and polyester resigns, and can be processed using vacuum-assisted resign transfer molding (VARTM) and low-temperature. Phenolic resins are known to have excellent fire/smoke/toxicity characteristics and yet available at a modest price. However, phonolic novolaks are known to evolve water during crosslinking, have poor mechanical properties and fairly high viscosity. We propose to develop furan modifies phenolic novolaks with alkyfuran derivative as a coreactive diluent. Furans are known to have excellent fir resistance with low smoke evolution and are inexpensive. Further, furan or furan derivatives can polymerize via the unsaturation at modest temperature in the presence of a strong acid without any volitlie evolution. The flame resistance characteristics shall be further improved by addiction of a reactive cyclophosphazene which is known to be as effective flame retardant. The coreacted cyclophosphazene will not be leached out easily. The mechanical properties of the phenolic novolaks will be improved by addition of silanol functionalized siloxane intermediates which have been shown to improve flammability characteristics too.