Investigation Into the Flammability Properties of Honeycomb Composites.
Investigation Into the Flammability Properties of
Honeycomb Composites.
(722 K)
Nyden, M. R.; Brown, J. E.
NISTIR 5509; 22 p. October 1994.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB95-143293
Keywords:
flammability; FT-IR; phenol formaldehyde; composite
materials; thermal degradation
Abstract:
The study which is the subject of this record was
carried out in two stages. The objective of the first
phase was to investigate the effect of electron beam
irradiation and grafting on polymer flammability. The
time to ignition and the rate-of-heat-release were
measured for the combustion of a series of samples in
which a fire resistant polymer was used to protect the
surface of a more flammable polymer. The flammability
properties of honeycomb composite materials, which are
currently used in the interior cabin compartments of
commercial aircraft, were examined in the second phase
of this project. Analyses of the gases evolved during
the thermal degradation of the components indicated that
the phenol-formaldehyde resin makes a significant
contribution to the flammability of these composites.
The possibility that a more fire resistant formulation
could be developed was examined by testing a series of
resins which differed in the relative amounts of phenol
and formaldehyde used in the reaction mixtures. The
flammabilities of resins synthesized in excess phenol
were measurably less than those synthesized in excess
formaldehyde.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899