Multi-scale Flame Retardancy in Aerospace Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) Using Hybrid Fibres and Graphene Oxide (GO)

The aviation industry has increasingly adopted carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRPs) over recent years due to their exceptional strength to weight ratio, which enhances fuel efficiency and aligns with environmental goals for reduced emissions. While CFRPs offer advantages in performance and weight reduction, their high manufacturing costs and inherent flammability limit their use in critical structural components where fire safety is paramount. This research will evaluate the effectiveness of current flame-retardant strategies in aerospace-grade CFRPs and propose a novel multi-scale approach, integrating nano and micro-level modifications, to enhance fire retardancy and impact performance. The proposed solution combines fibre hybridisation of carbon, basalt, and nomex fibres with nano engineered graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles as a micro coating or filler to synergistically delay ignition, reduce heat release rate and preserve post fire mechanical integrity. This research performed pre-ignition thermal and post-fire mechanical analysis to establish a structure property relationship identifying key parameters affecting fire resistance. The goal is to develop a fire resistant, mechanically robust material, using experimental data, that meets aviation safety standards and outperforms current solutions.