- Author
- Brown, J. E. | Loftus, J. J. | Dipert, R. A.
- Title
- Fire Characteristics of Composite Materials--A Review of the Literature.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Department of the Navy, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBSIR 85-3226, August 1986, 44 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- NAVSEA-O5R25
- Keywords
- composite materials | flame spread | fiberglass resins | hazard analysis | polymer flammability | reinforced plastics | shipboard fires | thermoplastic resins | thermoset resins | oxygen index
- Abstract
- A review is presented of the open literature concerning fire tests of composite materials which may be considered for use in U. S. Navy shipboard structures and installations. Results obtained for thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composite structures are summarized from standard test methods. The methods include tests for limiting oxygen index, smoke production, flame spread, fire endurance, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Typical criteria used by various investigators for ranking materials are discussed, and the material rankings based on test results are given. Data from non-standard tests designed to measure fire performance are also discussed. A detailed review of data and results of tests for selected referenes is given. Finally, recommendations are made for test developments and for the future direction of the U. S. Navy's fire evaluation program for composites and related materials intended for shipboard use.