Effects of zinc-based compound on degradation behaviour and smoke production of epoxy matrix

A commercial epoxy system, typically used in aerospace and its mixtures with three different zinc-based flame retardants (zinc borate-ZB, zinc stannate-ZS and zinc hydroxystannate-ZHS) were investigated. Flammability performances of this material were screened by micro-combustion calorimetry (MCC) while smoke generation, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO ) production, were analyzed by using cone calorimeter data. Thermogravimetry analysis was also performed considering a fixed loading content on fully cured samples, under both inert and air atmosphere and characteristic degradation kinetics parameters were evaluated following the Kissinger and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. Final results indicate that the dispersion of zinc borate (ZB) and zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS) into the epoxy matrix held to a significant increase in flame retardant properties, with ZHS also inducing a very appreciable smoke suppressant effects compared with neat system. A simplified decomposition model was assumed to analyse epoxy degradation behaviour returning appreciable matching with experimental TGA curve. ©2010: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects.