Abstract
This paper is the third in series on fire-resistant laminated glass composites containing an intumescent silicate interlayer and studies the effect of reinforcing fibres on the intumescent behaviour of the silicate matrices. Two silicate matrices with different silica/metal oxide ratios (SiO2:Na2O) were reinforced by polypropylene (PP), polyamide 66 (PA66), AR-glass (ARG) and stainless steel (ST) fibres, selected because of their alkali and UVA resistant properties. Thermal degradative behaviour of fibre/silicate mixtures having 5/95 and 10/100 mass ratios were examined to understand the effect of each fibre type on the intumescence of each silicate. Fibre reinforcements of the silicate layer were either as a nonwoven web or as a woven mesh. The intumescent properties of silicates were studied by heating the composites in a furnace at 450 °C for five minutes and measuring the intumescent layer thickness. The results showed that all fibre types in nonwoven web reinforcements had a negative effect while inorganic glass fibre in a woven mesh form had a negligible effect on the overall intumescence of silicate matrices. It was proposed that while fibre type was of minor importance, the fabric structure played an important role in inhibiting intumescence. Preferred reinforcement should preferably have open mesh-like characteristics.