Dual UV-Thermal Curing of Biobased Resorcinol Epoxy Resin-Diatomite Composites with Improved Acoustic Performance and Attractive Flame Retardancy Behavior

This study has developed novel fully bio-based resorcinol epoxy resin–diatomite composites by a green two-stage process based on the living character of cationic polymerization. comprises photoinitiation and subsequently thermal dark curing, enabling obtaining thick non-transparent epoxy-diatomite without any solvent amine-based hardeners. The effects diatomite content compacting pressure microstructural, thermal, mechanical, acoustic properties, as well flame behavior such have been thoroughly investigated. Towards development sound absorbing flame-retardant construction materials, compromise among properties was considered. Consequently, composite obtained with 50 wt.% 3.9 MPa is considered optimal in present work. Such exhibits enhanced flexural modulus 2.9 MPa, satisfying absorption performance at low frequencies Modified Sound Absorption Average (MSAA) 0.08 (for sample thickness only 5 mm), an outstanding retardancy peak heat release rate (pHRR) 109 W/g total kJ/g pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC) analysis.