Oxygen Index Test ASTM

2 Underwriters Laboratory Vertical Burn Test (UL94 -1980) [2] 

A strip of the test material is held vertically in air and ignited from the bottom with a Tirrell burner using a set procedure. 

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In this section, flammability of the electrolyte is discussed. The flammability is determined by using several methods, i.e., burning test with UL94HB method, flash point test with ASTM D56 and ASTM D93 method, and limiting oxygen index test with JIS K 7,201 method. These test procedures sometimes are arranged with these requirements. 

Three test apparatuses and methods have been developed to determine the fire properties associated with flame propagation (1) the ASTM D 2863 oxygen index test method for downward flame propagation for small samples [14] (2) the ASTM E 1321-90 lateral ignition and flame spread (LIFT) test method for horizontal and lateral flame propagation... 

Small laboratory tests, e.g., ASTM D1692 [5], oxygen index test (OIT) [6], Setchkin test [8], or similar tests under certain circumstances provide a means for production quality control. Their results can only be applied towards the characterisation of fire risk assessment if it can be demonstrated that the tests adequately simulate the actual fire situation. 

Figure 8-8. Typical equipment layout for oxygen index test. (Reprinted with permission of ASTM.)...

The Limiting Oxygen Index Test. The LOI test is a typical example of a method that is used to control the production of materials, products, and assemblies and in research to develop new products. This test is standardized in North America as ASTM D2863, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum... 

The limiting oxygen index of Tefzel as measured by the candle test (ASTM D2863) is 30%. Tefzel is rated 94 V-0 by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., in their burning test classification for polymeric materials. As a fuel, it has a comparatively low rating. Its heat of combustion is 13.7 MJ/kg (32,500 kcal/kg) compared to 14.9 MJ /kg (35,000 kcal/kg) for poly(vinyHdene fluoride) and 46.5 MJ /kg (110,000 kcal/kg) for polyethylene. 

When exposed to fire. Teflon PEA contributes Httle in fuel value and is self-extinguishing when the flame is removed. The fuel value is approximately 5.4 MJ/kg (2324 Btu/lb). It passes the UL 83 vertical-flame test and is classified as 94VE-0 according to UL 94. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) by ASTM D2863 is above 95%. 

Elame-spread and smoke-density values, and the less often reported fuel-contributed semiquantitive results of the ASTM E84 test and the limited oxygen index (LOI) laboratory test, are more often used to compare fire performance of ceUular plastics. AH building codes requite that ceUular plastics be protected by inner or outer sheathings or be housed in systems aH with a specified minimum total fire resistance. Absolute incombustibHity cannot be attained in practice and often is not requited. The system approach to protecting the more combustible materials affords adequate safety in the buildings by aHowing the occupant sufficient time to evacuate before combustion of the protected ceUular plastic. 

A third test often cited, Oxygen Index (O.I.) is an ASTM test which measures the flammability of the base polymers. The flammability of the polymer film may alone differ significantly from the flammability of the same polymer on a nonwoven substrate. Theoretically, the higher O.I. for a sample film, the higher its nonflammability. 

One of the most useful laboratory flammability tests is the oxygen index (Of) test (ASTM D-2043 and ASTM D-2863). In this test, the polymer is burned by a candle in controlled... 

ASTM D2863, Test Methodfor Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index), Vol. 8.02, ASTM, Philadelphia, Pa., 1991. 

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