Case study on prevention of fire hazards in coating epoxy-based FRP work with illumination

In this study, we investigated and analyzed the causes of fire hazards on the basis of actual accidents that occurred during epoxy resin fiberglass-coating operations. Results of this study showed that during this process, two major factors could cause a fire. One factor was related to the heat produced during the mixing of the epoxy resin and a polyamide curing agent. From the results of thermal analysis, it was found that the T(onset) of the epoxy resin and the polyamide curing agent was 52.8 degrees C by DSC and T(d10) was 58.9 degrees C by DT/TGA, causing an exothermic hazard. Further, the results of a pseudo-adiabatic analysis performed in a Dewar vessel showed that the temperature increased from 23.5 degrees C to 177 degrees C. The other factor that could increase fire hazard was the illumination source used during the coating operation. Depending on the type of illumination source used, the temperature could increase above 350 degrees C. The decomposition temperature (T(d10)) of PVC was 276.3 degrees C. The experiments involving epoxy resin fiberglass coating using an illumination source showed serious burn marks, and the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) electrical cable emitted small flames. Therefore, it can be concluded that fire was caused by the combination of two factors-the exothermic reaction between epoxy resin and the polyamide curing agent and the effect of prolonged illumination, both of which caused an increase in temperature leading to auto-ignition of the PVC electric cable. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.