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Author
Yeh, K. N. | Block, I. | Smith, B. F. | Spivak, S. M.
Title
Investigation of Test Methods for Determining the Flammability Hazards of Fabrics. 2nd Quarterly Progress Report. April-June 1973.
Coporate
Maryland Univ., College Park
Sponsor
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
2nd Quarterly Progress Report
July 20, 1973
17 p.
Contract
GRANT-309003
Keywords
fabrics | test methods | flammability | fire hazards | polyesters | nylon (trademark) | humidity | FF 3-71
Identifiers
molton drops; number of drops per specimen; after-burn time; seams
Abstract
During the second quarter of the grant period, studies on melt/drip phenomena of polyester and nylon fabrics were continued. Work to date has discolosed that (1) the number of drops, and the total weight of molten drops produced by burning fabrics is a complex function of fabric weight, construction, fiber used and the presence or absence of seams, (2) the average weight of a molten drop increases with increasing fabric weight to a maximum of about 18 mg, (3) the after-burn time of an individual drop is approximately 1/2 second for all fabrics tested, (4) the fabric burn time for a 2-inch wide specimen is dependent upon the presence or absence of seams and the fabric weight and (5) the rate of dripping and the total weight of drops increases with fabric burn time for samples with seams and is essentially constant for samples without seams. Furthermore, it was found that preconditioning at varying humidities form 0 to 65% RH had little effect on the burning behavior of the samples studied except for those samples having seams. Studies on the effects of sample size and shape, seams, ignition methods and cabinet air flow have been initiated and will continue during the next quarter.