Flammability of Composites

The polymer matrix is by far the most important component of the composite in determining the combustion characteristics. Under fires, the glass fibre doesn t burn and 

Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) were found to generate higher amounts of products associated with incomplete combustion such as carbon monoxide and smoke, compared to ordinary combustibles [190]. 

The fire characteristics of many FRP with different matrices and various fibres have been studied [191-195]. Fleat resistant composites with very low smoke density, toxicity and corrosivity were obtained with a group of flame retardants (based on dihydrobenzoxazines) which don t contain halogen, sulfur or phosphorus [196]. Also, glass fibre reinforced resole phenolic composites have some outstanding fire properties, e.g., low RHR and low toxic smoke emissions [197]. 

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For tests other than E-84, there have been some studies on the effects of fiber loading and fiber layup on composite flammability. This has primarily been work done by the U.S. Navy on the flammability of composites used in naval vessel flammability,19-20 or work by Kandola et al.10-21-22 on the effect of fiber type and content on polymer composites studied by cone calorimeter. More work is being conducted in studying the effects of fiber orientation and lay-up not on overall flammability performance, but flammability performance under structural load. This is the most important for aircraft, vehicles, and buildings where the composites are structural members. The concern here is... 

Caroll-Porczynski, Cz. Application of simultaneous DTA/TGA and DTA/MS analysis for predicting the flammability of composites, textile fabrics and polymers. CompositeSy 4, No. 1, 9 (1973)... 

Flammability limits. A flammable gas will bum in air only over a limited range of composition. Below a certain concentration of the flammable gas, the lower flammability limit, the mixture is too lean to burn, i.e., lacks fuel. Above a certain concentration, the upper flammability limit, it is too rich to burn, i.e., lacks oxygen. Concentrations between these limits constitute the flammable range. 

Flammability. Plastic foams are organic ia aature and, therefore, are combustible. They vary ia their respoase to small sources of ignitioa because of composition and/or additives (255). AH plastic foams should be handled, transported, and used according to manufacturers recommendations as weU as appHcable local and national codes and regulations. 

Of these dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is used in most compositions. It is cheap, has a high compatibility with secondary cellulose acetate and is efficient in increasing flexibility, toughness and the ease of flow at a given temperature. Its principal disadvantages are its high volatility and the fact that it increases the flammability of the compound. Similar in compatibility but rather less volatile is diethyl phthalate. This material has less of an influence on flexibility and flow properties than the methyl ester. 

T0 = temperature of service, °R Tl = equilibrium temperature at which the lower flammable limit composition exists over liquid in dry air at one atmosphere (theoretical flash point), °C or °F... 

Tst = equilibrium temperature at which Cst exists over liquid in dry air at one atmosphere, °C or °F Tu = equilibrium temperature at which the upper flammable limit composition exists over liquid in dry air at one atmosphere, °C or °F Tw = vessel wall temperature, °R Ti = gas temperature, °R, at the upstream pressure, determined fromTt = (Pi/P,) (T,) t = minimum required thickness of shell of vessel, no corrosion, inches... 

Flammability limits Vapor-air mixtures will ignite and burn only over a well-specified range of compositions. The mixture will not burn when the composition is lower than the lower flammable limit (LFL) the mixture is too lean for combustion. The mixture is also not combustible when the composition is too rich that is, when it is above the upper flammable limit (UFL). A mixture is flammable only when the composition is between the LFL and the UFL. Commonly used units are volume percent fuel (percentage of fuel plus air). 

Polyester polyols, 25 464 468 Polyester resin(s), 11 302 coating resins, 7 104-106 cyclopentadiene and dicyclopentadiene applications, 8 230 flammability of, 20 115-116 properties in powder coating, 7 43t standard test methods for, 20 11 It unreinforced, 10 187t weathering of, 20 116 Polyester resin-based powder coatings, organic titanium compounds in, 25 125 Polyester resin composites, 26 762-763 Polyester resin formulations ingredients of, 20 96t unsaturated, 15 511-512 Polyesters, 10 185-189, 497 12 655-656. See also Thermoplastic polyesters Unsaturated polyesters acid resistance of, 20 7-8 antioxidant applications, 3 121 aromatic ionic, 23 722 based on 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 12 674-675... 

Figure 14.1 Triangular scheme of composition isobutane/oxygen/inert, showing the flammability area for mixtures at room temperature, and the feed composition claimed by several industrial companies.

Detonability and Flammability of Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnic Compositions. 

Detonating Capacity of Explosives, Effect of Various Factors. This is a broad subject which is partly covered in this Section under "Detonability and Flammability of Explosives, P opellants and Pyrotechnic Compositions ... 

See "Detonability and Flammability of Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnic Compositions in Vol 4 of Encyd, pp D211-R to D213-R and also "Detonability of Propellants in Vol 3, p D103-L Addnl Refs A) E. Oehley, ChemlngeTech 25, 399-403(1953) CA 47, 10851(1953) (ExpLosibility equations) B) Akira Suzuki, JIndExplosivesSoc, Japan 14, 142—63(1953)... 

Detonahility and Flammability of Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnic Compositions i s discussed in Vol 4, pp D2I1-R to D213-R... 

First, they see it as one of the materials or principles of composition of bodies for, according to Stahls well summarized theory, the principle which chemists have called by names such as sulphur, sulphurous principle, flammable principle, flammable and coloring earth and by some other, less known names, which we will mention elsewhere, see Phlogistique, their principle, I say, is nothing else than fire itself —a pure and elementary substance, the true matter, the proper being of fire, the fire of Democritus and of some modern physicists. ... 

Flammability of expls, propints and pyrot compositions 4 D211-D213... 

One of the most characteristic features of flame propagation is the existence of flammability limits. For any given fuel-oxidizer mixture, there exists a range of compositions, which usually centers about the... 

The low burning result and the self-extinguishing characteristic obtained were not surprising. I say this in hindsight, for the inherent flammability of polyurethane foam, in general, is almost entirely a function of the chemical composition of the solid polymer and one route used to produce flame retardant polyurethane foams has been to alter the structure of the ure-... 

R.N. Walters and R.E. Lyon, Flammability of polymer composites, SAMPE 2007, Baltimore, MD, June 3-7, 2007. 

A.R. Horrocks and B.K. Kandola, Flammability and fire resistance of composites. In Design and Manufacture of Textile Composites, A.C. Long (ed.), Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, U.K., 2005, pp. 330-363. 

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