In recent years, the need to minimise environmental impact has led to the exploration of sustainable materials, avoiding those derived from petroleum, considering that these materials should proceed from nature and be harmless and durable. Therefore, throughout this work, the following raw materials were used: furan resin, which comes from agricultural by-products, and basalt fibre, obtained by melting basaltic volcanic rock. Specifically, this work studies the development of a flame-retarded furan prepreg manufactured by means of a continuous process combining a double-belt lamination equipment with an impregnation system. Once the prepregs (flame- and non-flame-retarded) were obtained, they were subjected to various tests to analyse their fire behaviour, with both showing an adequate performance. However, comparing both, concerning the toxicity index (CITG), the flame-retarded prepreg generated fewer toxic gases during combustion than the non-flame-retarded one, although the latter showed a lower smoke density. In short, the developed flame-retarded material falls into the R1HL3 (Requirement 1 and Hazard Level 3) classification demanded by products with large areas in railway vehicle interiors, which is the maximum safety level according to the risk index established in applicable regulations. Therefore, this material could be used in any railway vehicle for indoor applications.
The wide application of fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) materials has given rise to the problem of their durability and performance over time. These problems are largely associated with their environmental conditions and service procedures, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Here, we propose the production of polyester-based composites with different contents of synthesized Y3Al5O12:Ce3+,Ga (YAG:Ce,Ga) particles to provide sensing abilities towards material degradation. In this regard, the composites were subjected to UV radiation exposure, and its influence on the morphological, mechanical, and optical properties of the materials was investigated. Our findings reveal the self-sensing capabilities of the developed FRPC. The results indicate the potential of the system for the development of highly effective coatings allowing to detect and monitor UV degradation in composite materials for demanding applications.
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