Flame retarding ceramic fibres

In contrast to organic fibres, ceramic, i.e. inorganic, fibres, are not flammable and can maintain their physical strength and thus structure at very high temperatures. They find applications as materials used in very high temperature (> 1000o ) environments. This chapter provides an account of the range of these applications as well as the developments in ceramic fibre production techniques which enhance their high temperature properties. Ceramic fibres are increasingly used as reinforcements in organic resin matrices for high performance structural ceramic matrix composites and metals required for aerospace and marine applications. Since organic resins are potentially flammable, it is important that the whole composite system be fire resistant. The current status of this topic is reviewed together with a discussion of the potential for future improvements