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Radiative ignition of thermoplastic and charforming materials
Author(s) -
Clark Ferrers R. S.
Publication year - 1984
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.810080404
Subject(s) - charring , molar absorptivity , ignition system , composite material , low density polyethylene , char , materials science , flammability , polyethylene , polycarbonate , thermoplastic , flammability limit , radiant flux , radiative transfer , thermal radiation , radiative flux , fire retardant , pyrolysis , waste management , optics , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Small samples of poly(methyl methacrylate), red oak and possibly low‐density polyethylene ignite under the influence of thermal radiation with a propensity that increases with the area irradiated, consistent with ignition requiring that the lower flammability limit of pyrolysis gases be reached. The time to self‐extinction of small samples of charring, burning materials (low‐density polyethylene, red oak and possibly polycarbonate) in the absence of external radiant flux increases with burning area, suggesting that the increased absorptivity of char increases the importance of radiative feedback.