This study examined the impact of 0, 30, 60, and 90 days of weathering exposure on the thermal and fire performance of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites filled with Nano-Silica (NS). Characterization was carried out through visual observation, macro photography, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Ignition Time (IT), and Burning Rate (BR), following the ASTM standards. The results demonstrated a progressive degradation due to weathering, evidenced by the reduced initial decomposition temperatures, lower exothermic peak intensity, surface cracking, and delamination. Specifically, a noticeable color shift from yellowish to dark brown indicated surface oxidation. TGA revealed a decline in thermal stability, with the final residue dropping to about 45% after 90 days, while the DSC results showed a decrease in transition temperatures and exothermic response. The IT gradually decreased from 66 s (unexposed) to a minimum of 39 s after 90 days of weathering, while the BR increased from 0.237 mm/s to 0.33 mm/s over the same period. Nevertheless, NS continued to provide partial protection, despite the reduction in its effectiveness, remaining an effective material in improving thermal stability and fire resistance.
Saputro et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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