Ammonium Polyphosphate Reinforced E-Glass/Phenolic Hybrid Composites for Primary E-Vehicle Battery Casings –A Study on Fire Performance

Received: June 2-2021 Accepted: September 30-2021 The development of high strength, fire proof fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites is significant for automobile industries over the past few decades. This research investigates Ammonium Polyphosphate (APP) influence on thermal and fire performance of the E-Glass/Phenolic hybrid composites fabricated via book press compression molding. Various composition of hybrid laminates with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weight percentages of APP fabricated along with neat laminates and its thermal, fire performances like limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL 94, Influence of accelerated heat aging on impact behavior of hybrid samples were studied and reported along with the morphology studies. Results showed that higher APP filled specimens possess better fire performance than neat samples. UL 94 vertical and horizontal burning tests reports that 8 and 10 wt. % APP filled specimens showed a lower flame spreading rate and meets V-0 criteria. Similarly, heat aging significantly limits the hybrid configurations energy absorption capacity depending on increasing temperature and time duration. The investigations concluded that the proposed E-Glass/Phenolic/Ammonium Polyphosphate hybrid composites were apt for developing sustainable E-Vehicle battery casings and fireproof automobile components.