7.5 Technische Eigenschaften von Polymerwerkstoffen
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The Burning of Plastics
(2021)
The burning of a polymer is a physico–chemical process strongly influenced by the coupling of a chemical reaction – oxidation of fuel – in the gas phase with a chemical decomposition reaction – pyrolysis – in the condensed phase via heat and mass transfer. The heat and mass flux control the intensity of fire and the ablation of fuel. Indeed, the temperature profile as a function of time may be one of the most important responses of a specimen to understand its burning behavior. Further, several physical phenomena, such as the heat absorption of the materials, thermal conductivity, and also melt flow and dripping, play a major role in determining ignition, flammability, and fire behavior. The burning of a polymer is very complex. The various phenomena interact with each other, e. g., pyrolysis also influences the viscosity of the melt, and, thus, whether dripping or charring results in a protective layer, increasing the shielding effect of the residual protective layer. Only a detailed and comprehensive description opens the door to a well-founded understanding of the burning behavior of polymeric materials.
A systematic approach was used to investigate the weathering-induced degradation of a common water–based intumescent coating. In this study, the coatings are intended for humid indoor applications on steel substrates. The coating contains ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, melamine, and polyvinyl acetate. By replacing each ingredient with a less water-soluble substance, the most vulnerable substances, polyvinyl acetate and pentaerythritol, were identified. Furthermore, the weathering resistance of the system was improved by exchanging the ingredients. The coatings were stressed by artificial weathering tests and evaluated by fire tests. Thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the thermal decomposition. This study lays the foundation for the development of a new generation of water-based intumescent coatings.
Flame retarded polymeric materials are used in various applications in which a certain fire behavior is demanded. Protection goals are defined, such as limited flammability in terms of hindered sustained ignition or limited contribution to a fire, and these protection levels are tested with defined specimens or components in defined fire scenarios, that is to say, different fire tests. Passing a specific fire test by meeting whatever its demands is often the most important development goal, so the parameters of the different fire tests vary widely to emphasize different fire properties. Some fire tests are used to screen or provide a general assessment of flame retardant polymers during development, while other fire tests and tailored experiments are performed to address special phenomena or understand the flame retardancy modes of action. For all fire testing, the devil is in the details – demanding know-how and crucial efforts to manage the quality of investigations and advanced interpretation. This chapter aims to offer a structured overview of all these aspects.