- Author
-
Klimke, P. M.
- Title
- Contribution to the Evaluation of Test Results in the Testing of the Fire Behavior of Plastics on a Laboratory Scale.
- Report
-
GAT Z-5046,
April 15, 1971,
21 p.
- Keywords
-
plastics
|
fire behavior
|
evaluation
|
building materials
|
fire safety
|
flame propagation
|
flammability
|
heat generation
|
smoke
|
toxicity
|
chemical bonds
|
mechanical strength
- Abstract
- A study of the fire behavior of various types of plastics and the justified use of these materials in the building trade from the standpoint of fire safety is described. The primary objective of the testing techniques employes is to differentiate and classify the risks involved and the degree of flame propagation produced. Physical-chemical foundations for the fire behavior of plastics are presented. The stability of these organics at high temperature is determined mainly by the thermal stability of their chemical bonds. The degree of combustibility is increased by a high oxygen content (esters, ethers), while a high halogen and a high aromati-content reduces it (polyvinyl chloride, phenol resins). Physical properties studied include moisture, dimensions, and surface/volume ratios of the materials. The studies also include inflammability, flame propagation, generation of heat, smoke and toxicity, and loss of mechanical strength. Temperature-time curves compare sample behavior to reference materials. Fire development in polyester (glass fiber-reinforced), polymethacrylate, polyethylene, and polystyrene stop practically in all cases after the maximum temperature is reached. Polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate demonstrate a self-extinguishing effect, which does not permit a flame propagation and influences the temperature. Polyurethane-hard foam, PVC foam, and phenol resin foams are generally characterized by a fire behavior unlike the homogeneous materials.