Combustion of Polymeric Materials

R. M. Aseeva and G. E. Zaikov, Combustion of Polymeric Materials, Hanser Pubhshers, Munich and New York (dist. in the United States by Macmillan) 1985, pp. 229-241. 

Most fires involve the combustion of polymeric materials. Despite the involvement of polymers in fires, there have been no books on current research topics in this area of fire research in some years. Given the importance of fire and polymers as a social issue and the complexity and interest in the relevant basic science, Eli Pearce of Polytechnic University of New York and I cochaired a one-week symposium on fire and polymers. It was the first major symposium held on fire and polymers at an American Chemical Society National Meeting in about five years. 

The physiological and toxicological aspects of smoke produced during the combustion of polymeric materials." Annu. rep. 1973-1974. UTEC-MSE 74-060, FRC/UU26. 

BS 6425-1 Test On Gases Evolved During The Combustion Of Materials From Cables. Method For Determination Of Amount Of Halogen Acid Gas Evolved During Combustion Of Polymeric Materials Taken From Cables, BSI British Standards Institution, London, U.K., 1990. 

Diffusion flaming combustion of polymeric materials may be compared with that of unmixed gases. Zeldovidi related the extinction limits of the diffusion flame with the reactant concentration (mass flow rate) in the chemical reaction zone and its cooling. At the extinction limit the intensity of diffusion combustion of unmixed gases is at its maximum corresponding to the combustion intensity of a premixed stoichiometric mixture of the same gases. 

Flaming combustion of polymeric materials inevitably involves liberation of gaseous fuels. No wonder, therefore, that the interest in the thermal properties of polymers and the mechanisms and kinetics of polymer decomposition and gasification has been high. 

We considered it most rational to begin this paragraph with a discussion of the mechanistic concepts of the effects of flame retardants on the combustion of polymeric materials. 

The available data concerning the effect of metal compounds on the pyrolysis and combustion of polymeric materials show that there is a great potential in the control of these materials, This field is still in its embryonic stage. Much is yet unclear. In many cases the analysis is rendered difficult because of the dual function of metal compounds (especially of the d- and f-types) in redox reactions. Their ability not only to inhibit but also to promote polymer decomposition manifests itself most clearly in concentration effects The specific effects of certain metal compounds on the ignition and combustion rate of polymers indicate that heterogeneous oxidation... 

Aseeva, R. M., Zaikov, G. E. Combustion of Polymeric Materials, Moscow Nauka 1981 (in Russian)... 

---