ANALYSIS OF COMBINATION COMMERCIAL AND NEW ALUMINIUM PHOSPHATE (AlPO4) FILLER IN MARINE GRADE COATING FIRE RETARDANT ON COMPOSITE FIBERGLASS SURFACE

Abstract

Fiberglass composite are common material used in the manufacturing of small vessel for near coastal voyage due to its lightweights, low cost and high damping. However, resin materials in fiberglass composite are highly flammable and fire-retardant system are common practice use in the industries. Fire retardant system can be applied either in the internal or external composite system. Resin are modified to reduce its flammable properties in the internal composite system. The external fire-retardant system focused on fire-retardant coating protection. ATH and APP are commercial filler used in fire retardant composite. High loading of ATH increase the fire-retardant properties however decrease its strength. Meanwhile addition of APP increases the smoke release. Thus new fire-retardant filler aluminium phosphate (AlPO4) are applied for the external system due to its effectiveness in internal composite system. Commercial and new AlPO4 fire retardant filler are embedded in marine paint and coated on fiberglass composite surface. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that combination APP/ATH/AlPO4, with 10/5/5 wt% produce highest weight residue of 30 wt% due to high char layer produce that improves fire retardant properties. FTIR and fire-retardant test also observed similar finding due to good interaction between marine paint and fire-retardant filler that are commercial and AlPO4 with reducing the smoke release and high retardant properties.