High Temperature Performance of Polymer Composites

The authors explain the changes in the thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of polymer composites under elevated temperatures and fire conditions. Using microscale physical and chemical concepts they allow researchers to find reliable solutions to their engineering needs on the macroscale. In a unique combination of experimental results and quantitative models, a framework is developed to realistically predict the behavior of a variety of polymeric materials over a wide range of thermal and mechanical loads. In addition, the authors treat worst-case scenarios, presenting heat-protection methods to improve the fire resistance of composite materials, and discuss their performance after fire exposure.
Thanks to the microscopic approach, the developed models are valid for a variety of polymer composites, making this work applicable to a wide audience, including materials scientists, polymer chemists, engineering scientists in industry, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and those working in the chemical industry.