Light weight materials such as reinforced plastics are rapidly replacing the traditional structural materials such as metals, woods etc. However, in many instances, these materials are flammable and they require modifications to decrease their flammability through addition of flame-retardant components. Environment regulations have restricted the use of halogenated flame-retardant additives, initiating a search for alternative flame-retardant additives. Carbon nanotubes have shown that they can simultaneously improve both the physical and flammability properties of the polymer nanocomposite. Our multiscale software package will explain the underlying physical mechanisms and accurately predict the thermo-mechanical behavior of the protective char layer. Thus it will directly help in development of the next generation commercial fireproofing materials. In addition, this software package technology can be applied to study high temperature oxidation and pyrolysis processes in materials that are of interest to the chemical, petrochemical, aerospace and defense industries, thus providing ACT a wide customer base.
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