| Abstract: | This study evaluated the ignitability of cotton towel material saturated with an oxidizer solution of 0.5 N cerium nitrate in 2 N nitric acid. Four types of ignition testing were performed in this work: self‐heating oven tests, hot object ignition tests, radiative smoldering ignition tests, and piloted flaming ignition/burning rate tests. Results indicate that cerium nitrate significantly enhances the ignitability of the towels. Self‐heating properties of cerium nitrate treated towels were measured using the standard constant temperature oven method described by Bowes. Based upon these self‐heating properties, self‐heating is not a hazard for storage scenarios other than bulk storage (depths of several meters) of cerium nitrate treated towels at room temperature. Surface ignition of hot objects was observed for object temperatures as low as 250°C placed upon room temperature cerium nitrate treated towels. Ignition for hot objects buried within a pile of towels occurred for object temperatures as low as 230°C. Radiant heating tests of cerium nitrate treated towels showed initiation of smolder at heat fluxes as low as 3 kW/m2 at surface temperatures as low as 175°C. This compares with ordinary cellulosic materials that require 7–8 kW/m2 heat fluxes and temperatures of 250°C. All four scenarios demonstrate enhanced ignitability and burning rates of cerium nitrate treated towels. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
