Mechanical and reaction-to-fire properties of bio-based epoxy – diatomite composite materials

Abstract

This paper presents results of development of novel bio-based resorcinol epoxy resin – diatomite composites by a green two-stage process based on the “living” character of the cationic polymerization. This process comprises the photoinitiation and subsequently the thermal dark curing, enabling the obtaining of thick and non-transparent epoxy-diatomite composites without any solvent and harmful amine-based hardeners. The effects of the diatomite content on mechanical and reaction-to-fire properties of such composites have been investigated. Based on the evaluation of these properties, the composite obtained with 40 wt.% diatomite is considered the optimal composite in the present work. Such composite exhibits the enhanced flexural modulus of 3,6 MPa and an outstanding flame retardancy behavior with the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) of 132 W/g and the total heat release of 6 kJ/g in the pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC) analysis.