Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Heats of combustion (H_o), oxygen index (OI), and the differences between their observed and calculated values (ΔH_o) and ΔOI) of various fiberous materials were measured and calculated. Both polyester (where molten mass drips off) and acrylic homo- and copolymers (which leave considerable char in the OI test) have larger values of ΔOI and ΔH_o than those of easily combustible polymers such as polymethyl methacrylate or polypropylene. Cotton or acetates, which show residual carbonaceous materials while burning, have values of ΔOI equal to nylon-6 or polyacrylonitrile, but smaller values of ΔH_o.

Oxygen index values from various shapes of samples such as stick-form, film or fabric rolled up into cylinders, and film or fabric in 5 × 10-cm sheets were determined. Oxygen index values of nylon-6, polyester, and acrylic copolymer of 11% methylacrylate decrease rapidly as the test forms change from stick to cylinder to open-width. Such values calculated from observed H_o will be equal to the OI of the material when melting and dripping or char-producing phenomena do not occur.

Results of thermogravimetric analysis are also presented.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Akita

, Kobunshi no Nensho, Combustion of High Polymers, Kobunshi, Japan 22, 184–189 (1973).

American Society for Testing and Material Standards , ASTM designation D-2863–70; Japan Industry Standard, designation JIS K 7201–1972.

Dipietro

Stepniczko

, Factors Affecting the Oxygen Index Flammability Ratings, J. Soc. Plastic Engng. 27, 23–31 (1971).

Douglas

D. O.

, The Flame Proofing of Nylon, J. Soc. Dyers. Color 73, 258–263 (1957).

Einhorn

I. N.

, Fire Retardance of Polymeric Materials, in “Review of Polymer Technology,” Vol. 1 ( Skeist

, Ed.), Marcel Dekker, N. Y., 1972, pp. 113–184.

Fenimore

C. P.

Martin

F. J.

, Flammability of Polymers, Combustion and Flame 10, 135–139 (1966).

Fenimore

C. P.

Martin

F. J.

, Candle Type Test for Flammability of Polymers, Modern Plastics, 141–192 (Nov. 1966).

Hilado

C. J.

, “Flammability Handbook for Plastics,” Technomic Publ., Co. Stamford, Conn., 1969; Bussho, N., “The Flammability of Polymeric Materials” (in Japanese) Kobunshi-Kako, Oct. 1971, pp. 520–525.

Ishii

Sekiguchi

Takaya

, Thermal Properties and Flammability of Various Fibers, Sen-i-Gakkaishi 28, 359–367 (1972).

10.

Johnson

P. R.

, A General Correlation of the Flammability of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 18, 491–504 (1974).

11.

Kagawa

Suga

, Heat of Combustion and Crystallinity of Cellulose (in Japanese), Kogyo-Kagaku-Kaishi 59, 797–799 (1956).

12.

Modorsky

S. L.

, “The Thermal Degradation of Organic Polymers,” Interscience Publishers, N. Y., 1964, p. 247.

13.

Murray

, For Flammability Tests, It's Back to Square One, Modern Plastics (Inter'l Ed.), 71–74 (Sept. 1973).

14.

Nametz

R. C.

, Flame-Retarding Synthetic Textile Fibers, Ind. Engng. Client. 62, 41–53 (1970).

15.

Nielsen

L. E.

(Trans. Onogi

), “Mechanical Properties of Polymers” (in Japanese), Kagaku-Donin, Kyoto City, 1967, p. 32.

16.

Ohe

Matsuura

, The Relation Between the Heat of Combustion and the Oxygen Index for High-Polymeric Materials, Textile Res. J. 45, 778–784 (1975).

17.

Ohe

, Deterioration of Polyacrylonitrile (in Japanese), Kobunshi 11, 445–450 (1962).

18.

Ohe

Takiyama

Yamashita

, On Oxygen-Indexes of the Polymeric Materials Containing Chlorine in Their Structures and Oxygen Indexial Synergism of Antimony Trioxide and Chlorine, unpublished paper.

19.

Parker

W. J.

, Flame Spread Model for Cellulosic Materials, J. Fire Flamm. 3, 254–269 (1972).

20.

Patten

G. A.

, Ignition Temperatures of Plastics, Plastics, 119–180 (July, 1961).

21.

Reimschessel

H. K.

Shalaby

S. W.

Pearce

E. M.

, Oxygen Index of Nylon 6, J. Fire Flamm. 4, 299–308 (1973).

22.

Sayers

L. W.

, Flammability of Fibers, Fabrics, and Garments, Textile Institute and Ind., 168–170 (July, 1965).

23.

Simmons

R. F.

Wolfhard

H. G.

, Some Limiting Oxygen Concentrations for Diffusion Flames in Air Diluted with Nitrogen, Combustion and Flame 1, 155–161 (1957).

24.

Tesoro

G. C.

Meiser

C. H.

, Some Effects of Chemical Composition on the Flammability Behavior of Textiles, Textile Res. J. 40, 430–436 (1970).

The Heat of Combustion and Oxygen Index of Fibrous Materials

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References