Prediction of the burning rates of charring polymers

Abstract

a b s t r a c tA quantitative understanding of the processes that take place in the condensed phase of a burning material is critical for prediction of ignition and growth of fires. In the current study, a model of burning of two widely-used charring and intumescing polymers, bisphenol A polycarbonate and poly(vinyl chloride), was developed and validated. The modeling was performed using a flexible computational framework called ThermaKin, which had been developed in our laboratory. ThermaKin solves time-resolved energy and mass conservation equations describing a one-dimensional material object subjected to external heat. Most of the model parameters were obtained from direct property measurements. The model was validated against the results of cone calorimetry experiments performed under a broad range of conditions. Potential sources of uncertainties in the model parameterization were analyzed.

Prediction of properties and modeling fire behavior of polyethylene using cone calorimeter

“…Similarly thermal analysis has been performed and fire behavior been investigated for polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by Shi et al [21]. Fire behaviors of polycarbonates (PC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated by Stoliarov et al [22]. They have demonstrated the relation among cone calorimeter results with model equations using a computational framework called ThermaKin [23,24].…”

“…Fire behaviors of polycarbonates (PC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated by Stoliarov et al [22]. They have demonstrated the relation among cone calorimeter results with model equations using a computational framework called ThermaKin [23,24]. Lautenberger et al [25] The objective of this thesis is to study the thermal analysis and understand the fire behavior of polyethylene.…”

Modeling the Pyrolysis and Combustion Behaviors of Non-Charring and Intumescent-Protected Polymers Using “FiresCone”

“…Lautenberger et al [12,13] have developed a generalized model, named "Gpyro", to simulate the fire behavior of non-charring polymers, other charring solids and intumescent coatings. Stoliarov et al [14][15][16] have also developed a model, named "ThermaKin", with a view to describing the pyrolysis of solid materials that were exposed to an external heat flux.…”

Toward halogen-free flame resistant polyethylene extrusion coated paper facings

“…The sample material is geometrically defined as a series of layers with specified thicknesses, and chemically defined by the material components parameterised with specific physical and chemical properties. The ThermaKin program has been numerically verified and validation studies have been performed using charring and non-charring polymers [6,7,22,23].…”

“…FDS, including the pyrolysis model, has also been extensively validated. For further details the reader is referred to the FDS User's Guides [21,23] or the Technical…”