TY - JOUR A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Wilkie, Charles A. A1 - Camino, Giovanni T1 - Recommendations on the scientific approach to polymer flame retardancy: Part 1—Scientific terms and methods N2 - The correct use of scientific terms, performing experiments accurately, and discussing data using unequivocal scientific concepts constitute the basis for good scientific practice. The significance and thus the quality of scientific communication rely on the proper use of terms and methods. It is the aim of this two-part article to support the community with recommendations for discussing the flame retardancy of polymers by addressing some of the most relevant points. The first article (part one of two) clarifies some scientific terms and, in some cases, such as for ‘‘pyrolysis,’’ ‘‘thermal decomposition,’’ and ‘‘fire resistance,’’ critically discusses their definitions in the field of fire science. Several comments are made on proper fire testing and thermal analysis, including some thoughts on uncertainty in fire testing. The proper use of distinct concepts in flame retardancy is discussed briefly in the subsequent second article (part two). This article tries to Balance imparting background on the subject with recommendations. It encourages to check scientific practice with respect to communication and applying methods. KW - Pyrolysis KW - Fire testing KW - Char KW - Flame retardant KW - Flammability KW - Fire property PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/0734904116675881 SN - 0734-9041 SN - 1530-8049 VL - 34 IS - 6 SP - 447 EP - 467 PB - SAGE AN - OPUS4-38115 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Wilkie, Charles A. A1 - Camino, G. T1 - Recommendations on the scientific approach to polymer flame retardancy: Part 2 - concepts N2 - The usage of concepts in scientific communication is critical to our ability to inform the reader about work that has been performed. The significance and thus the quality of scientific discussion rely on the precise use of concepts. In this second part of a two-part paper, concerning the scientific basis of polymer fire retardancy, the proper use of concepts is addressed. Distinct concepts in flame retardancy are discussed, such as fire residue, the correlation of fire performance with char yield according to van Krevelen, catalysis, and wicking. Synergy is discussed in detail, as well as approaches to quantify it, due to its importance for flame retardant polymers. The preceding first paper (part 1) discussed the proper use of scientific terms, thermal analysis, and fire testing. Thus, together these two papers support the community by offering recommendations and addressing some of the most relevant points. They encourage to review scientific practice in the field of flame retardancy of polymers. KW - Char KW - Synergism KW - Flame retardancy KW - Flammability KW - Fire growth indices KW - Synergy index PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/0734904116675370 SN - 0734-9041 SN - 1530-8049 VL - 35 IS - 1 SP - 3 EP - 20 PB - Sage AN - OPUS4-39084 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -