- Author
- Kourtides, D. A. | Parker, J. A. | Gilwee, W. J., Jr. | Lerner, N. R. | Hilado, C. J. | LaBossiere, L. A. | Hsu, M.
- Title
- Composite System Approach to Aircraft Cabin Fire Safety.
- Coporate
- Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA San Francisco Univ., CA San Jose State Univ., CA
- Sponsor
- National Aeronautics and Space Admin., Washington, DC
- Report
- NASA TM X-73126, April 1976, 45 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- aircraft compartments | fire protection | composite materials | combustion products | fire fighting | smoke | toxicity | aircraft interiors | fire prevention | safety factors | flameproofing | thermogravimetry | thermal degradation | oxygen index
- Identifiers
- aircraft
- Abstract
- The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of two polymeric composites currently in use and seven others being considered for use as aircraft interior panels are described. The properties studied included: 1) limiting oxygen index of the composite constituents; 2) fire containment capability of the composite; 3) smoke evolution from the composite; 4) thermogravimetric analysis; 5) composition of the volatile products of thermal degradation; 6) relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis. The performance of high-temperature laminating resins such as bismaleimides is compared with the performance of phenolics and epoxies. The relationship of increased fire safety with the use of polymers with high anaerobic char yield is shown. Processing parameters of one of the bismaleimide composites is detailed.