Process for obtaining fibre-reinforced composite materials

A method for obtaining a flame-resistant fibre-reinforced composite material, the method comprising steps of:

• a) obtaining an inorganic matrix by mixing
• 70% to 80% by weight of an alkaline silicate component, said silicate component being present in an aqueous solution;
• and
• 20% to 30% by weight of a mixture of an amorphous silica component and an aluminosilicate component, with a silica to aluminosilicate component weight ratio of between 5:1 and 25:1;
• b) pre-impregnating a reinforcing fibre, with the inorganic matrix obtained in step a), thereby obtaining a pre-impregnated composite material;
• and
• c) subjecting the pre-impregnated composite material obtained in step b) to a pressure ranging from 3 to 20 bar and a temperature ranging from 180° C. to 220° C., for a time ranging from 90 minutes to 12 minutes.

A flame-resistant fibre-reinforced composite material, comprising:

• 40% to 60% by weight of a reinforcing fibre chosen from the group consisting of carbon fibre, basalt fibre and glass fibre;
• 70% to 80% by weight of an inorganic matrix comprising an alkaline silicate component chosen from the group consisting of caesium (Cs) silicate, sodium (Na) silicate or potassium (K) silicate;
• and
• 20% to 30% by weight of a mixture of an amorphous silica component and an aluminosilicate component.