When compared with solid polymers, many cellular polymers are deemed to have unacceptable fire properties. This is due not to their chemical composition, but to their physical form. Such low density materials, with low thermal inertias, can achieve a high rate of burning very rapidly, ft is this ability to develop steady burning in a comparatively short period of time that is the principal hazard associated with such materials. Measured properties such as heat of combustion and ‘smoke potential’ are effectively of secondary importance.
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