Solid-State Thermochemistry of Flaming Combustion. (Abstract/Presentation)
Solid-State Thermochemistry of Flaming Combustion.
(Abstract/Presentation)
(185 K)
Lyon, R. E.
NIST SP 998; May 2003.
Keywords:
fire growth; fire spread; flaming combustion;
thermochemistry
Abstract:
A large amount of research has been conducted on the gas
phase thermochemistry of flaming combustion, undoubtedly
due to the commercial importance of this process in
heating and internal combustion engines. In contrast,
the solid-state processes of flaming combustion are
poorly understood-probably because this knowledge is
relevant mainly to the problems of fire and
incineration, neither of which have a large enough
economic impact to justify significant research
activity. To date, only the thermochemical processes
that occur in burning wood have been studied
systematically. At the Federal Aviation Administration
we are attempting to develop a fireproof aircraft cabin.
Since commercial aircraft cabins are comprised
primarily of synthetic organic polymers and polymer
composites, we require a fundamental understanding of
the solid-state processes of flaming combustion and the
relationship of these processes to polymer chemical
structure in order to achieve this goal. Therefore, the
present work attempts to extend the existing research on
the solid-state thermochemistry of burning wood to
include polymers.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899