Fire Risk and Prevention Technologies of Polymeric and Composite Materials

The applications of polymers have recently expanded to hitherto unimagined areas, thanks to the advances in polymer science. However, most polymers, irrespective of the source, are inherently flammable, thus posing a danger to life and property. Despite the significant advances in science and research in many areas of human endeavor, the 21st century has witnessed some of the most devastating fire accidents in history, hence the need for new and innovative approaches to dealing with fires associated with the extensive utilization of polymers. In this regard, taking into account the thermal and fire hazards nature of polymeric materials, the quest for the manufacture of sustainable, yet efficient flame-retardant polymers or additives with versatile functionalities is apparent.



Considering the inherently flammable nature of most polymeric materials, and the fact that society will invariably cease to exist without them, it is important to harness knowledge in this regard to deal with the fire challenges associated with the use of polymers. To achieve this objective, there is a need for a new and innovative synthesis of inherently non-flammable polymeric materials that can be used for a wide range of engineering applications where heat cannot be avoided. Also, the synthesis of novel highly efficient flame-retardant additives is essential to reduce the fire hazards of polymers. Although, significant progress has been achieved, especially with regards to flame-retardant additives, little has been done on additives with multiple functionalities, such as intelligent fire sensors embedded within polymers. To understand their fire safety properties and risk assessments, novel characterization and modeling/simulation techniques need to be developed to investigate the thermal and fire hazards of polymers. Finally, there is a growing trend towards the development of sustainable flame retardant systems to address environmental pollution issues associated with the use of non-degradable materials and hazardous additives.



Research Topic includes but is not limited to

• Flame-retardant polymeric and composites materials

• Thermally stable polymeric and composite materials

• Methodologies and tools for thermal and fire hazards assessment

• Intelligent composites and fire sensing

• Flame retardant/fire policy and circular economy

• Thermal and fire modeling/simulations

Types of manuscript interested in include:

• Original research articles

• Review articles

• Perspective