Self-extinguishability

Polymeric vinylidene chloride generally produced by free radical polymerization of CH2 = CCl2. Homopolymers and copolymers are used. A thermoplastic used in moulding, coatings and fibres. The polymers have high thermal stability and low permeability to gases, and are self extinguishing. 

Tensile yield strength, 103 lb in-2 Thermal Burning rate, mm min Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, 10 °C 50-90 0.5-2.2 50-90 50-80 50-60 10-13 Self- extinguishing 40-55 46... 

Pentaerythritol is used in self-extinguishing, non dripping, flame-retardant compositions with a variety of polymers, including olefins, vinyl acetate and alcohols, methyl methacrylate, and urethanes. Phosphoms compounds are added to the formulation of these materials. When exposed to fire, a thick foam is produced, forming a fire-resistant barrier (see Elame retardants) (84—86). 

Poly(vinyl chloride). PVC is a hard, brittle polymer that is self-extinguishing. In order to make PVC useful and more pHable, plasticizers (qv) are added. More often than not the plasticizers are flammable and make the formulation less flame resistant. Flammability increases as the plasticizer is increased and the relative amount of chlorine decreased, as shown in Table 7. The flame resistance of the poly(vinyl chloride) can be increased by the addition of an inorganic flame-retardant synergist. 

Miscellaneous. Flame-resistant cross-linked polyethylene can be made with a number of fluoroborates and antimony oxide. This self-extinguishing material may contain the fluoroborates of NH, Na", K", Ca ", Mg ", Sr ", or Ba " in amounts of 4—20% (76). Magnesium fluoroborate cataly2es the epoxy treatment of cotton fabrics for permanent-press finishes (77) (see Textiles). 

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%. 

Flammability. Most nylons ate classified V-2 by the Underwriters Laboratory UL-94 test, which means that these nylons are self-extinguishing within a certain time-scale under the conditions of the test. They achieve this performance by means of giving off burning drips. 

Flame Retardants. Flame retardants are added to nylon to eliminate burning drips and to obtain short self-extinguishing times. Halogenated organics, together with catalysts such as antimony trioxide, are commonly used to give free-radical suppression in the vapor phase, thus inhibiting the combustion process. Some common additives are decabromodiphenyl oxide, brominated polystyrene, and chlorinated... 

The UL flammability ratings describe the relative ease of ignition and combustibiUty of plastics. Tests include the measurement of flame propagation, time to self-extinguish, melt and drip with and without flame, and oxygen indexes. Some engineering plastics, eg, polyetherimides, are, as ranked by this test, inherently nonflammable. Others can be made nonflammable by compounding with flame retardants (ERs) such as bromine... 

An operator had tested dryer samples on a number of occasions. After the last sampling, he closed the manhole cover, put the dryer under vacuum, and started rotation of the dryer. A few minutes later an explosion and flash fire occurred, which self-extinguished. No one was injured. Investigations revealed that after... 

The compounds so formed have excellent thermal stability and are self-extinguishing and even completely fire-retardant. Their properties are given in Table 13.14. A few common types of insulators and supports are shown in Figure 13.31. 

Ganz. A. and Jakob. R.. Switching high voltage motors with SF,t self-extinguishing circuit breakers. Brown Bnveri Review, 110-714. November (1979),... 

Blends of ABS with polycarbonates have been available for several years (e.g. Bayblend by Bayer and Cycoloy by Borg-Wamer). In many respects these polymers have properties intermediate to the parent plastics materials with heat distortion temperatures up to 130°C. They also show good impact strength, particularly at low temperatures. Self-extinguishing and flame retarding grades have been made available. The materials thus provide possible alternatives to modified poly(phenylene oxides) of the Noryl type described in Chapter 21. (See also sections 16.16 and 20.8.)... 

Polar substituents such as chlorine increase the interchain forces and hinder free rotation of the polymer chain. Hence polydichlorostyrenes have softening points above 100°C. One polydichlorostyrene has been marketed commercially as Styramic HT. Such polymers are essentially self-extinguishing, have heat distortion temperatures of about 120°C and a specific gravity of about 1.40. 

The chlorine present results in a self-extinguishing polymer. It also leads to a polymer which has a high rate of decomposition at the temperatures required for processing. 

Vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride polymers are also self-extinguishing and possess very good resistance to a wide range of chemicals, including acids and alkalis. They are dissolved by some cyclic ethers and ketones. 

Both fibres and sphere fillers tend to improve self-extinguishing characteristics. 

Non-self-extinguishing grades with a heat distortion temperature in the range 110-160°C and with a notched Izod impact strength of 200-500 J/m. 

Self-extinguishing grades with slightly lower heat distortion temperatures and impact strengths. 

Non-self-extinguishing glass-reinforced grades (10, 20, 30% glass fibre) with heat distortion temperatures in the range of 120-140°C. 

The introduction of self-extinguishing, glass-reinforced and structural foam grades has led to steady increase in the use of these materials in five main application areas. These are ... 

The self-extinguishing properties of the resin are due to the high chlorine content of the acid (54.8%). The double bond of the acid is unreactive and it is... 

The self-extinguishing characteristics of the chlorine-containing resins are improved by incorporation of antimony oxide but this approach is not possible where translucent sheet is required. As an alternative to chlorine-based systems a number of bromine-containing resins have been prepared and, whilst claimed to be more effective, are not currently widely used. It is probably true to say that fire-retarding additives are used more commonly than polymers containing halogen groupings. 

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