Thermal tests flammability testing

Some claims appear in the patent literature relating to the thermal and flammability performance of polyurethanes created from ESO polyols [190], but such claims should be carefully evaluated under the conditions of local, state or federal flammability testing methods, or of regional constmction regulations. 

Additionally, other features of polymer characterisation are discussed such as the determination of molecular weight, polymer fractionation techniques, chemical and thermal stability, resin cure, oxidative stability, photopolymers, glass and other transitions, crystallinity, viscoelasticity, rheological properties, thermal properties, flammability testing, particle size analysis and the measurement of the mechanical, electrical and optical properties of polymers. 

For physical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties, ASTM test methods are employed (28). Flammability ratings are often based on Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards (29). UL flammabiUty ratings given ia this article are aot iateaded to reflect the hazards preseated by the resias uader use coaditioas. Typical properties are givea ia Table 3. More details and additional properties are given ia Refereaces 5 and 31—33. 

The Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances (UL 94) has methods for determining whether a material will extinguish, or burn and propagate flame. The UL Standard for Polymeric Materials-ShortTerm Property Evaluations is a series of small-scale tests used as a basis for comparing the mechanical, electrical, thermal, and resistance-to-ignition characteristics of materials. 

Intrinsically Safe Circuits A circuit which any spark or thermal effect, produced either normally or in specified fault conditions, is incapable, under the test conditions prescribed in this standard, of causing ignition of a mixture of flammable or combustible material in air in its most easily ignited concentration."(3)... 

Potential hazards (flammability, corrosivity, etc.) are reviewed to identify concerns regarding the storage and handling of reactive chemicals, and information is obtained from raw material suppliers (e.g., technical bulletins). Flashpoint, DSC, or differential thermal analysis (DTA) testing is typically done by the customer. 

Flame Resistance. Traditionally, small-scale laboratory flammability tests have been used to initially characterize foams (38). However, these do not reflect the performance of such materials in bulk form. Fire characteristics of thermal insulations for building applications are generally reported in the form of qualitative or semiquantitative results from ASTM E84 or similar tunnel tests (39). Similar laiger scale tests are used for aircraft and marine applications. 

Bench-scale reaction-to-fire tests are used to characterize the behavior of materials under more severe thermal exposure conditions that are representative of the growing pre-flashover stage of a compartment fire. These tests essentially determine how a material responds to the temperatures and heat fluxes in a growing fire. In these tests, the fire conditions are simulated with a radiant panel or by inserting the specimen into a small furnace. A pilot may be used to ignite the flammable gases and vapors that are generated as a result of thermal decomposition of the... 

The thermal combustion properties measured in the test are related to the flammability characteristics of the material.5155 For example, the heat release temperature from method A approximates the surface temperature at ignition (Section 14.3.2.1). The net calorific value from method B approximates the net heat of combustion measured in an oxygen bomb calorimeter. 

CA TB 129, California Technical Bulletin 129, Flammability Test Procedure for Mattresses for Use in Public Buildings, California Bulletin of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation, North Highlands, CA. 

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