FLAME RESISTANT COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

1 . A composite structure comprising:

a resin composite material; and

a surface layer disposed on the resin composite material, wherein the surface layer comprises a phenolic resin.

2 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the resin composite material includes an epoxy-containing material, a polyester-containing material, a vinyl ester-containing material, a polyurethane-containing material, a bismaleimide-containing material, a cyanate ester containing material, a dicyclopentadiene-containing material, and combinations thereof.

3 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the resin composite material further comprises fibers.

4 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the phenolic resin is a material selected from the group of novolak resin, resole resin, etherified resin, and combinations thereof.

5 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer further comprises a reinforcement material.

6 . The composite of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a fiber material selected from the group of glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers, Kevlar™/Aramid fibers, Spectra™ fibers, high density polyethylene (HDPE), quartz fibers, polyethylene, organic fibers, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, and combinations thereof.

7 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the resin composite layer comprises an article, a surface of an article, or both.

8 . The composite of claim 7 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a vessel, a panel, a cylindrical structure, a molded composite part, a construction article and combinations thereof.

9 . The composite of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer further comprises a curing catalyst.

10 . A method for making a composite structure, comprising;

providing an resin composite material; and

applying a surface layer on the resin composite material, wherein the surface layer comprises a phenolic resin.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying the surface layer comprises process selected from the group of a painting, spraying, rolling, and combinations thereof.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the resin composite material includes an epoxy-containing material, a polyester-containing material, a vinyl ester-containing material, a polyurethane-containing material, a bismaleimide-containing material, a cyanate ester containing material, a dicyclopentadiene-containing material, and combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the resin composite material further comprises fibers.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the phenolic resin is a material selected from the group of novolak resin, resole resin, etherified resin, and combinations thereof.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surface layer further comprises a reinforcement material.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a fiber material selected from the group of glass fibers, carbon fibers, boron fibers, Kevlar™/Aramid fibers, Spectra™ fibers, high density polyethylene (HDPE), quartz fibers, polyethylene, organic fibers, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, and combinations thereof.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the applying the surface layer comprises process selected from the group of a filament winding, spraying chopped strands, applications of prepregs, and combinations thereof.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surface layer further comprises a curing catalyst.

19 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising curing the surface layer.

20 . An article, comprising

a structure having an outer resin composite layer; and

an overlay surface layer comprising a phenolic resin disposed on the resin composite layer.