Premium
Absorption and reflection of infrared radiation by polymers in fire‐like environments
Author(s) -
Linteris Gregory,
Zammarano Mauro,
Wilthan Boris,
Hanssen Leonard
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.1113
Subject(s) - radiant energy , transmittance , attenuation coefficient , absorption (acoustics) , polymer , radiative transfer , infrared , materials science , radiation , ignition system , reflection (computer programming) , optics , broadband , thermal radiation , environmental science , composite material , optoelectronics , physics , thermodynamics , computer science , programming language
SUMMARY In large‐scale fires, the input of energy to burning materials occurs predominantly by radiative transfer. The in‐depth (rather than just surface) absorption of radiant energy by a polymer influences its ignition time and burning rate. The present investigation examines two methods for obtaining the absorption coefficient of polymers for infrared radiation from high‐temperature sources: a broadband method and a spectral method. Data on the total average broadband transmittance for 11 thermoplastics are presented (as are reflectance data), and the absorption coefficient is found to vary with thickness. Implications for modeling of mass loss experiments are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.