Enhanced fire resistance of cellulosic fibers for green polymer composites

The incorporation of renewable resources in composite materials is a viable means to reduce environmental impact and support sustainability development in the composites industry. Cellulosic fiber polymer composites have received very much attraction for different industrial applications because of its low density and the renewable ability. However, the uses of cellulosic fibers in the composite are limited in many applications that require fire resistance due to their flammability and their low thermal resistance. This paper reports an innovative and sustainable treatment approaches to retard the burning of cellulosic fibers for composite production in which a minimum amount of non-toxic and low cost inorganic chemicals have been used. Different types of reacting minerals and different treatment parameters have been investigated in order to determine the most cost-effective treatment solution. The cellulosic fibers obtained from this approach become self-extinguished while there is no negative effect on fiber strength. The composite with the treated cellulosic fibers also shows their good fire resistance with minor effect on the mechanical properties. Thus this solution will open the door for the use of the cellulosic fibers in composites for applications where fire resistance is an important issue, particularly in aerospace, transportation, and construction.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye