Effects of Sample Mounting on Flammability Properties of Intumescent Polymers.
Effects of Sample Mounting on Flammability Properties of
Intumescent Polymers.
(1287 K)
Kashiwagi, T.; Cleary, T. G.
Interscience Communications Limited. Heat Release and
Fire Hazard. 1st U. S. Symposium. Abstracts. December
1991, San Diego, CA, 4 pp, 1991.
Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3, 203-225, 1993.
Keywords:
heat release; fire hazard; sampling; flammability;
polycarbonates; cone calorimeters; char; heat release
rate; heat of combustion; soot; flame spread; flame
spread rate; lateral ignition
Abstract:
Various flammability properties of polycarbonate samples
were measured with the Cone Calorimeter and Lateral
Ignition and Flame Spread, LIFT, devices at various
external fluxes. Four different sample mountings were
used with the Cone Calorimeter to investigate the
effects of sampling mounting on the flammability
properties of these samples. One sample mounting
configuration employed the standard metal edge frame and
a grid to retain intumesced char. The other three
samples mounting configurations allowed the intumesced
char to rise free. The results show that peak heat
release rates and heat release rate curves were
significantly affected by the sample mounting
configuration but total heat released, effective heat of
combustion, and soot yield were not significantly
affected. Flame spread characteristics were measured
with the LIFT. Two sample mounting configurations were
used, the standard method and the standard method with
the addition of wire grid to retain intumesced char.
Significant differences in flame spread rates were
observed between the two sample mounting configurations
with and without the grid. This was caused by
difference in flame spread rates versus rising rates of
char.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899