New generation of fire retardant polyester resins

Smoke evolution [in a smoke chamber (750 x 750 x 1000) +/- 5 mm, Polish Standard PN-91/K-02501 equivalent to UIC 561-OR (1991)] was studied in, and the oxygen index flammability test (Polish Standard PN-76/C-89020) was carried out for, glass-reinforced polyester (GRP) laminates obtained with unsaturated polyester (UP) resins containing chlorine and bromine in the chain. In these studies, the effect on these proper-ties of such additives as ZnSnO3 (ZS), ZnSn(OH)(6) (ZHS), Al(OH)(3) or Mg(OH)(2) and Sb2O3 in an amount of up to 30 mass-% was determined. The most efficient ignition and smoke-evolution retarder from among the investigated compounds was ZS and ZHS, whereas an essential reduction in smoke evolution was observed also with Sb2O3. GRP laminates with these additives meet the fire-safety recommendations concerning smoke evolution from materials used in transportation means and in the building industry.