| Abstract: | A new research technique was developed for the evaluation of fundamental burning characteristics of polymers. Burning characteristics examined included heat release, mass change, oxygen consumption, and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide generation. A laboratory apparatus was designed and constructed so environmental conditions could be controlled. The detection of selected parameters was realized by the use of various devices and instrumentation. Instrumental potentiometric outputs were processed with a data acquisition system to accommodate simultaneous data collection in the calibration and the material study. Each device used for parameter measurement was standardized and calibrated by itself as well as in connection with the system. Systematic errors were estimated to be less than 6%. The technique was tested with flame retardant systems containing antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) and decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBDPO) on polyethylene film. Significant different effects on the heat reduction and CO formation in the system containing DBDPO alone and that containing both DBDPO and Sb2O3 were observed. Different flame-retardation mechanisms for these two systems were postulated and confirmed by additional thermal and elemental analyses. Results demonstrated that this technique can be an effective mean in the evaluation of polymer-burning behavior and flame-retardant mechanisms. |
