ABSTRACT
Fiber reinforced epoxy resins are widely used in automotive and aircraft construction as lightweight materials with optimized mechanical properties. For many sophisticated applications, a required flame retardancy of the materials is necessary. Since the neat epoxy resin sets a base value for the burning behavior of a material, the efficiency of incorporated flame retardants depends on the nature of the matrix, the incorporation of fibers, and the fiber type. Whereas an efficient flame retardancy of epoxy resins can be achieved by condensed-phase active flame retardants, gas-phase activity is required in fiber reinforced composites. Fiber reinforcement can even cause a change in the mode of action of certain flame retardants. Carbon fiber reinforcement can be an additional hazard because at temperatures over 600°C respirable fiber fragments may be formed.
