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Assessment of relative flammability and thermochemical properties of some thermoplastic materials
Author(s) -
Kourtides Demetrius A.,
Parker John A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760181105
Subject(s) - materials science , flammability , polycarbonate , thermogravimetric analysis , cone calorimeter , composite material , polymer , bisphenol , differential scanning calorimetry , phenolphthalein , polyvinyl chloride , acrylonitrile butadiene styrene , polystyrene , char , pyrolysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , epoxy , thermodynamics
The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of some typical thermoplastic materials currently in use and others being considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied included (a) thermal mechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature, (b) changes in polymer enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry, (c) thermogravimetric analysis in an anaerobic and oxidative environment, (d) oxygen index, (e) smoke evolution, (f) relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis, and (g) selected physical properties. The generic polymers which were evaluated included: acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene, bisphenol A polycarbonate, bisphenol fluorenone carbonate‐dimethylsiloxane block polymer, phenolphthalein‐bisphenol A polycarbonate, phenolphthalein polycarbonate, polyelher sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone; chlorinated poly vinyl chloride homopolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. Processing parameters including molding characteristics of some of the advanced polymers are described. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flam inability, smoke and toxicity properties are presented. Under these test conditions, some of the advanced polymers evaluated were significantly less flammable and toxic or equivalent to polymers in current use. A relationship of the anaerobic char yield of the polymers to their relative flammability properties is shown.