Airbus and materials scientists say fire resistant composites saved lives of the 349 passengers in Tokyo plane crash. All passengers on the A350 escaped alive after the aircraft hit a small stationary plane on the runway during landing (see pinfa Newsletter n° 156). The A350 contains large amounts of polymer composites. Airbus is quoted as stating that the composites offer as much fire resistance as aluminium (which burns at 600°C). Emilie Greenhalgh, materials scientist at Imperial College London, says that although the composites can burn at lower temperature, they form a char layer which acts as a barrier against fire progression. This barrier is the result of non-halogenated PIN flame retardants, which prevent and reduce fire and reduce smoke emission.
“Plastic Fantastic: Composites: Tokyo air crash saviour?”, PlastEurope News, 12th January 2024 https://www.plasteurope.com/news/PLASTIC_FANTASTIC_t254343/