The new innovation reduces the flammability of composite materials by about five times while maintaining most of the essential mechanical properties. Composite materials, widely used in construction, aviation, electronics, and automotive industries, typically rely on epoxy resins known for their lightness and strength. However, they suffer from significant weakness in fire resistance due to their high organic content.
This is where the new innovation comes in, as explained by Dr. Sergey Borisov from the Department of “Chemistry and Technology of Elastomer Processing” at Volgograd Technical University. The innovative addition relies on a mixture of copper and ammonium salts dissolved in phosphoric acid. This mixture leads to a “triple fire extinguisher” effect that works through:
The team explains that the new material does not merely act as a mechanical “filler” but chemically interacts with the resin to form a new crystalline structure within the polymer, enhancing its effectiveness even at low concentrations. The university’s scientists plan to continue studying the contribution of each of the three components in the flame retardation process, as well as evaluating the material’s durability and stability in high humidity conditions, in preparation for its potential adoption in industries requiring the highest safety standards.
