Flammability of materials

C. F. Key, J. G. Austin, and J. W. Bransford, Flammability of Materials in Gaseous Ouygen Environments, NASA TMX-64783, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washiagton, D.C., Sept. 1973. 

TI and its profile are found to be more reliable than 01 for the assessment of the flammability of materials (12). 

Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, 1990. 

There are several standard tests for determining the flammability of materials (ASTM, 2004). For example, the upper and lower concentration limits for the flammability of chemicals and waste can be determined by standard test methods (ASTM D4982, E681), as can the combustibility and the flash point (ASTM D1310, E176, E502). With these definitions in mind it is possible to divide ignitable materials into two subclasses ... 

ASTMTL162, T st Methodfor Suface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, Vol. 4.07, ASTM, Philadelphia, Pa., 1987. 

This term varies significantly with the nature of the fuel. Liquid fuels are characterized by the presence of recirculation currents induced by buoyancy. These currents homogenize the temperature distributions, reducing in-depth conduction. Nevertheless, convective motion transfers heat to the interior of the pool leading to an additional term of in-depth convection. Convective heat transfer in polymer melts has a similar behavior and could potentially have an important effect on burning rates nevertheless, the impact of polymer melt rheology on the flammability of materials is still a matter of great controversy. 

Panagiotou, J and Quintiere, JG. 2004. Generalizing flammability of materials. Interflam 2004, 10th International Fire Science Engineering Conference, ed. S. Grayson. Greenwich, U.K. Interscience Communications Ltd., pp. 895-905. 

ASTM E 84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials ASTM E 108 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings ASTM E 119 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials ASTM E 136 Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C ASTM E 162 Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source... 

NFPA 287 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Materials in Cleanrooms Using FPA... 

Cone calorimetry according to the ASTM E1354138 or ISO 5660139 standards are commonly used in the laboratory to screen flammability of materials by measuring heat release characteristics of the compound.116140 This device is similar to FPA but does not have the versatility of FPA. The cone calorimeter can determine the ignitability, heat release rates, effective heat of combustion, visible smoke, and C02 and CO development of cable materials. This test has been used extensively for wire and cable material evaluation. The microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC), also known as pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC), was recently introduced to the industry for screening heat release characteristics of FR materials.141142 This device only requires milligram quantities of test specimen to measure the heat release capacity (maximum heat release potential). Cone calorimetry and MCC have been used in product development for flammability screening of wire and cable compounds.118... 

Since the flammability of materials increases with the ambient temperature, the LOI may be expected to decrease with increasing temperature. Johnson (1974) derived a quantitative experimental expression for LOI-retention as a function of temperature. Fig. 26.5 illustrates this. The LOI value decreases by the 3/2 power of temperature, which indicates that diffusion processes are more important than chemical activation of pyrolysis. From Fig. 26.5 the temperature can be derived at which any given LOI, measured at room temperature, will be reduced to 0.21. This will be the temperature at which the flammability of a material with a given LOI will permit candle-like burning in ordinary air. The result is given in Fig. 26.6. 

The investigation of critical conditions for polymer combustion is of great interest for the further development of the combustion theory, as well as for practical reduction of flammability of materials, fire prevention, and extinction. 

ASTM E 286-85 Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using an 8-ft (2.44-m) Tunnel Furnace, 9 pp (Comm E-5)... 

Fillers can play an important role in limiting the flammability of materials and in reducing the damage and injuries caused by fires. 

Applications. The test illustrates the relative flammability of materials by measuring the minimum concentration of oxygen in atmosphere required to initiate and support flame for more than 3 min. 

Applications. In this test, the flammability of materials is considered as a function of the heat release rate and critical ignition energy. Flammability is inversely proportional to ignition energy and directly proportional to heat released. ... 

Flammability of materials is characterized by many different ways, one of them is the flame spread index (FSI). As reference values, FSI for inorganic reinforced cement board surface is arbitrarily set as 0, and for select grade oak surface as 100 under the specified conditions. FSI for ordinary wood species is typically between 100 and 200, and for some special cases it is as low as 60-70. An average FSI for about 30 different wood species is 125 45. 

ASTM E162-98 for surface flammability of materials Specimen of dimensions Determination of flame spread index of a material. Intended for research and... 

Federal motor vehicle safety standard no 320 — flammability of materials - passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses. Washington, USA US Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Test procedures for the flammability of materials in the electric industry have been developed and introduced in several countries over the last 15 years, without the puzzling diversity of the methods which have arisen in the building industry. The procedures are hence governed by more uniform test methods and international standards. 

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