The Combined Effect of Carbon nanotubes, Clay and Phosphorus Flame Retardants on Fire Resistance of Fiber-reinforced Epoxy Composites

Epoxy resins have been used in a variety of applications because of their distinctive advantages over other thermoset resins. Beside these advantages, epoxy resins are combustibleand it is necessary to use flame retardant fillers in them. Recently nano fillers have been considered to have highpotential for flame retardants. Carbon nanotubes (CNT), clay and carbon nano fiber have been used as flame retardants in many polymeric matrices. CNTs have attracted specialinterests because they can improve flame retardancy as well as mechanical properties [1]. The synergistic effect betweennanofillers and micro additives as flame retardant has been studied by many researchers [2]. The main purpose of thispaper is to study flame retardancy of epoxy/glass compositescontaining CNT, clay, ammonium poly phosphate (APP) and their combinations.