Temperature 298 INDEX

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) tests are recognized by various industries to provide continuous temperature ratings, particularly in electrical applications. These ratings include separate listings for electrical properties, mechanical properties including impact, and mechanical properties without impact. The temperature index is important if the final product has to receive UL recognition or approval. 

These coatings bubble and foam to form a thermal insulation when subjected to a fire. They have been used for many decades. Such coatings cannot be differentiated from conventional coatings prior to the occurrence of a fire situation. Thereupon, however, they decompose to form a thick, nonflammable, multicellular, insulative barrier over the surface on which they are applied. This insulative foam is a very effective insulation that maintains the temperature of a flammable or heat distortable substrate below its ignition or distortion point. It also restricts the flow of air (oxygen) to fuel the substrate. 

These coatings provide the most effective fire-resistant system available but originally were deficient in paint color properties. Since, historically, the intumescence producing chemicals were quite water-soluble, coatings based thereon did not meet the shipping can stability, ease of application, environmental resistance, or aesthetic appeal required of a good protective coating. 

More recently there have been developed water- resistant phosphorus-based intumescence catalyst. This commercially available product, as an example Phos-Chek P/30 tradename from Monsanto, can be incorporated (with other water insoluble reagents) into water-resistant intumescent coatings of either the alkyd or latex-emulsion type. These intumescent coatings, formulated ac- 

In addition to what has been presented, the commercially available literature provides all kinds of the important behavioral thermal/temperature properties that would be important to designers for certain specific requirements (181). Examples are given in Figs. 5-9 and 7-20 to 7-23 and Tables 7-13 to 7-15. 

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It is important to know whether a polymer will be stable, that is, whether it will not decompose at a given temperature. There are several measures of thermal stability, the most important of which (from an economic standpoint) is the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) temperature index. 

Unfortunately, there is not at a present a computational method for predicting the UL temperature index. There is a QSPR method for predicting... 

Many grades of acetal resins are Hsted in Underwriters Eaboratories (UL) Kecogni d Component Directory. UL assigns temperature index ratings indicating expected continuous-use retention of mechanical and electrical properties. UL also classifies materials on the basis of flammability characteristics homopolymer and copolymer are both classified 94HB. 

Long-term exposure to high temperature is best described by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) temperature index. The UL temperature index is ... 

Thermal Properties. Thermal properties include heat-deflection temperature (HDT), specific heat, continuous use temperature, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and flammability ratings. Heat-deflection temperature is a measure of the minimum temperature that results in a specified deformation of a plastic beam under loads of 1.82 or 0.46 N/mm (264 or 67 psi, respectively). Eor an unreinforced plastic, this is typically ca 20°C below the glass-transition temperature, T, at which the molecular mobility is altered. Sometimes confused with HDT is the UL Thermal Index, which Underwriters Laboratories estabflshed as a safe continuous operation temperature for apparatus made of plastics (37). Typically, UL temperature indexes are significantly lower than HDTs. Specific heat and thermal conductivity relate to insulating properties. The coefficient of thermal expansion is an important component of mold shrinkage and must be considered when designing composite stmctures. 

Shrouds are recommended in the front and on the top of the terminals of each feeder to provide protection to the operator from live parts. They will also prevent the tools falling inadvertently from an upper module onto the live terminals of the lower module. Look closely at Figure 13.34 for these features, where in the front is provided a typical translucent shroud to enable a check of the terminals, without opening the shroud. On top is provided another shroud to prevent the terminals from falling tools. If the shroud is of polycarbonate (acrylic has a low temperature index), it should be suitable to withstand a temperature of up to 200°C without deformation. This temperature may be reached during a fault at the terminals. 

Figure 14-8 shows the effect of speed and load intensity on the flash temperature index. These curves are general in nature, since scoring is a function of pressure angle, lubrication, and tooth size. 

Figure 14-8. Scoring based on flash temperature index related to speed and torque. (Courtesy of Lufkin Industries, Inc.)...

Over the years many attempts have been made to provide some measure of the maximum service temperature which a material will be able to withstand without thermal degradation rendering it unfit for service. Quite clearly any figure will depend on the time the material is likely to be exposed to elevated temperatures. One assessment that is being increasingly quoted is the UL 746B Relative Temperature Index Test of the Underwriters Laboratories (previously known as the Continuous Use Temperature Rating or Index). 

Such a value for relative temperature index will be specific to a particular grade of a polymer, sometimes even to a specific colour. The difference between grades of a particular species of polymer can be substantial, depending both on the variation in the inherent stability of a material between differing manufacturing methods and also on the type and amount of additives used. It is possible to obtain from the Laboratories a Generic Temperature Index to cover a species of material but this will usually be considerably lower than for many of the individual grades within that species. 

Table 9.1 Some collected values for Relative Temperature Index (RTI) (Unless otherwise stated, data are for mechanical without impact and for unreinforced grades)...

In the absence of fire retardants the material has a limiting oxygen index of 27.5 and may bum slowly. Only some grades will achieve a UL 94 V-1 rating. The Underwriters Laboratories continuous use temperature index is also somewhat low and similar to the polyarylates with ratings of 135-140°C (electrical) and 105°C (mechanical with impact). Initial marketing has emphasised comparisons with the aliphatic nylons for the reasons given in the previous... 

A high UL Temperature Index of 170°C (for mechanical with impact). 

As with the polysulphones, the deactivated aromatic nature of the polymer leads to a high degree of oxidative stability, with an indicated UL Temperature Index in excess of 250°C for PEEKK. The only other melt-processable polymers in the same league are poly(phenylene sulphides) and certain liquid crystal polyesters (see Chapter 25). 

A somewhat low Underwriters Laboratories Temperature Index rating of 120-130°C. 

The temperature index (TI) of a polymer is defined as the temperature at which the test specimen just supports combustion in air. 

It is of interest to note that the polymer containing ZnSn(OH) does not burn in air even at 250°C and, accordingly, this composition has a temperature index of at least 50°C above that of the rubber containing ATH alone. The 01 and high temperature 01 data therefore provide substantial evidence as to the benefit of using ZnSn(OH) as a flame-retardant synergist with alumina trihydrate filler. 

The 01 value is affected by the temperature of the environment (26). With increase in temperature, the 01 values decrease, and thus in many cases instead of 01 a Temperature Index (TI) is used. TI of a material is defined as a temperature of the environment at which its 01 becomes equal to the concentration of oxygen in normal air. 

Oxygen Index and Temperature Index. A Stanton-Rederoft FTA/HFTA Oxygen Index apparatus was used. Experiments were performed using the ASTM D 2 863-77 procedures with temperature variations between ambient and 300°C. 

ISO 2578 [3] calculates a Temperature Index (TI) which is the temperature at which the chosen threshold is reached in (usually) 20,000 hours. The Relative Temperature Index (RTI) is a comparative value with a reference material. The HIC is the halving interval the temperature change needed to halve the time to the end point from the TI. 

The temperature index is the maximum temperature that causes a 50% decay of the studied characteristics in the very long term. It is derived from long-term oven-ageing test runs. The UL Temperature Index depends on ... 

For the same grade with the same thickness, the three indices can be identical (for example, a polyethylene grade with a 50° C UL index temperature) or different (for example, a polyamide grade with a temperature index varying from 75°C for the electrical and mechanical properties, impact included, up to 105°C for the electrical properties only). 

Like all laboratory methods, the temperature index is an arbitrary measurement that must be interpreted and must constitute only one of the elements by which judgement is made. 

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