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Modeling and experimental studies of thermal degradation of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites
Author(s) -
Tsoi Marvin,
Zhuge Jinfeng,
Chen RueyHung,
Gou Jihua
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.2178
Subject(s) - cone calorimeter , materials science , composite material , glass fiber , calorimeter (particle physics) , heat flux , thermal , polymer , fiber , degradation (telecommunications) , polyester , composite number , polyester resin , ignition system , fibre reinforced plastic , pyrolysis , heat transfer , waste management , char , computer science , engineering , mechanics , telecommunications , physics , detector , meteorology , aerospace engineering
This study developed a numerical model that simulated the degradation rate and temperature profiles of a glass fiber reinforced polyester resin composite exposed to a constant heat flux in a cone calorimeter. By considering the thermal properties of the composite structure consisting of alternating layers of pure polymer and polymer‐infused glass fiber mat, the numerical model seeks to reproduce the experimental data from the cone calorimeter test. The final results are achieved through adding a simulated heat flux from the pilot ignition of the degraded gas of the polyester resin. The good agreement between the predicted and experimental results suggests that such models are cost‐saving tools over the process of designing and manufacturing of composites for meeting fire safety requirements, without having to fabricate many samples for testing and final selection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.