- Author
-
Sarkos, C. P.
|
Filipczak, R. A.
|
Abramowitz, A.
- Title
- Preliminary Evaluation of an Improved Flammability Test Method for Aircraft Materials. Final.
- Coporate
- Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City Airport, N.J.
- Report
-
DOT/FAA/CT-84/22,
December 1984,
41 p.
- Keywords
-
aircraft
|
evaluation
|
flammability tests
|
oxygen index
- Abstract
- Small-scale flammability test methods were evaluated by comparing data obtained on a series of interior honey-comb panels with fire test results obtained with a 1/4-scale cabin model. Generally, the vertical Bunsen burner, limiting oxygen index and radiant panel test methods ranked the phenolic-faced panels higher (better performance) than the epoxy-faced panels. It appears as if these test methods, which employ relatively moderate exposure conditions, are reflecting the superior ignition resistance of the phenolics over the epoxies. Thus, these tests cannot predict the performance of materials that exhibit high burning rates when subjected to heating conditions above their ignition threshold. The heating conditions used in the Ohio State University (OSU) apparatus, however, can be set at higher levels. At 5 watts/square cm, rank ordering materials based on peak heat release rate measured via oxygen depletion in the OSU apparatus agreed with materials ranking in the 1/4-scale model. Based on the scope of this investigation, the OSU apparatus operated at these conditions and employing oxygen depletion calorimetry is the recommended improved fire test method for interior panels.