Plastic foams flammability

Flammability. The results of small-scale laboratory tests of plastic foams have been recognized as not predictive of their tme behavior in other fire situations (205). Work aimed at developing tests to evaluate the performance of plastic foams in actual fire situations continues. All plastic foams are combustible, some burning more readily than others when exposed to fire. Some additives (131,135), when added in small quantities to the polymer, markedly improve the behavior of the foam in the presence of small fire sources. Plastic foams must be used properly following the manufacturers recommendations and any appHcable regulations. 

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. 

Bemie Miller, Small-Scale Tests are Respectable-Foam Flammability, Plastics World. 1981 (9), 78-81. 

BFRs are used in a wide range of consumer products electronic components, textiles, foam in upholstery, carpets and building materials - all uses where the risk of fire necessitates caution. The increase in the use of plastics and flammable synthetic materials has contributed to the rise in the use of flame retardants. 

A cone roof tank with an internal floating roof that does not meet these criteria or uses plastic foam for flotation, even if encapsulated in metal or fiberglass, should be fire protected by side wall foam chambers suitable for the full (surface) area of the tank. This type of internal floating-roof installation is not recommended, particularly for flammable liquids. 

Virtually all plastic foams are blown with inert gases (COs. Ns. H 0). Among these blowing agents, hydrocarbons and some of the HCFs and HFCs are flammable ajtd pose a fire hazard in handing al the manufacturing plants. 

Usually, different methods are recommended for each particular type of material (film, fabric, carpet, rigid plastic foam, elastoplastics, etc.) to characterize its flammability adequately. Test procedures are divided into small-, medium-, large- and real-scale experiments, depending on the sample size. 

Cellular urea-formaldehyde and phenolic resin foams have been used to some extent in interior sound-absorbing floors [101]. In general, cost, flammability, and cleaning difficulties have prevented extension into the acoustic tile market. Plastic foams are used in anechoic chambers [66]. 

Isocyanates, n.o.s. or Isocyanate Solution, n.o.s. These include a number of chemical products used in the manufacture of plastic foams, synthetic rubber, etc. Some are sufficiently toxic or lachrymatory to need classification as toxic substances, particularly isocyanates in pure form. Others may need to be classified as flammable liquids, depending on their characteristics, and a number may not be subject to these Instructions. ICAO A2... 

Polyurethane/polyisocyanurate products have higher insulation value and good flammability ratings and are expected to continue to be the leading products in plastic foam market as sheets and slabs. 

The testing and specification of flammability of plastics is a difficult task in general. It is particularly difficult for plastics foams. 

Whereas the density of conventional moulded or extruded solid plastics is between 0.9 and 2 g/cm , the bulk density of expanded plastics falls in the range 0.01 to 0.5 g/cm. Hence the standardized sizes of solid plastics specimens involve no great variation in mass, and the mass ratio between different plastics can hardly exceed a value of 2. As indicated by the above figures, this mass ratio for plastics foams may cover more than on order of magnitude. And clearly, the mass of the specimen is of crucial importance in the results of flammability tests. 

The first and hitherto most wide-spread standard flammability test for plastics foams, ASTM D 1692 has been withdrawn. The practically identical ISO 3582-1978 prescribes a test specimen of 150 mm x 50 mm with a thickness between 5 and 13 mm, placed on a horizontal wire gauze of 215 mm x 75 mm. 13 mm of the length of the gauze is bent upwards to a right angle as shown in Figure 3.60. The specimen is marked 125 mm from the end to be ignited then placed in a holder (Fig. 3.61). 

The flammability of plastics foams is also characterized by the oxygen index (cf. Section 3.1.4). Batorewitz and Hughes made polyurethane specimens of different sizes. 125 mm long bars were varied in cross-section from 6 mm x 6 mm to 13 mm x 25 mm they demonstrated that the measured oxygen index was independent of size in this range. They selected the cross section of 13 mm x 13 mm for the routine tests. 

Highly combustible materials, such as flammable liquids, paints or plastic foams, ignite very easily and quickly produce large quantities of heat and/or dense toxic smoke. Such materials should be stored outside buildings under construction in secure storage areas. 

Flammability of materials in use Easily ignitable, flammable liquids gases, solvents, foam plastic, wood shavings Takes time to ignite - paper, furniture, plastics Non-flammable materials... 

Flammability of Solid Plastics Flexible Thin Plastic Sheeting Supported Flammability of Fabrics—Clothing Textiles Flammability of Plastics Foams and Sheeting... 

Aryl Phosphates. Aryl phosphates were introduced into commercial use early in the twentieth century for flammable plastics such as cellulose nitrate and later for cellulose acetate. CeUulosics are a significant area of use but are exceeded now by plastici2ed vinyls (93—95). Principal appHcations are in wire and cable insulation, coimectors, automotive interiors, vinyl moisture barriers, plastic greenhouses (Japan), furniture upholstery, conveyer belts (especially in mining), and vinyl foams. 

Evaluation of Flammability Characteristics of Exterior, Nonioad-Bearing Wall Panel Assemblies Using Foam Plastic Insulation. 

A fire involving foam rubber mattresses in a storeroom led to an unexpected and serious explosion. Subsequent investigation showed that an explosion risk may exist when the flammable smoke and vapour from smouldering of large amounts of foam rubber are confined in an enclosed space. Suitable strict precautions are recommended [1], Methods of quantitatively evaluating potential fire hazards from release rates of heat, smoke and toxic gases from heated foam rubber and plastics materials were developed, and their application to real situations discussed [2],... 

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