ISSN: 1546-962X
Page Count: 18

A Thermal Analysis Method for Measuring Polymer Flammability

Lyon, RE
Fire Safety Branch AAR-440, Federal Aviation Administration, William J. Hughes Technical Center,New Jersey,

Walters, RN
SRA International,NJ,

Stoliarov, SI
SRA International,NJ,

(Received 12 December 2005; accepted 19 January 2005)

Abstract

A thermal analysis method is presented in which controlled heating of polymer samples and complete combustion of the evolved gases are used to separately reproduce the condensed and gas phase processes of flaming combustion in a single laboratory test. Oxygen consumption calorimetry applied to the combustion gas stream gives the heat release rate history of the sample as a function of its temperature. The maximum rate of heat release and the temperature at which it occurs are polymer characteristics related to fire performance and flame resistance.

Keywords:
polymer, plastic, fire, flammability, flame, heat release, kinetics, combustion, oxygen consumption, calorimetry

Paper ID: JAI13895
DOI: 10.1520/JAI13895
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