Comparison of Black and Transparent PMMA in the Cone Calorimeter

Abstract

The cone calorimeter is one of the standard devices used to assess the flammability of polymers. Several publications have been made studying different types of polymers and different set-ups in this apparatus. Polymers come in different forms and colors. It is unknown, however, whether the color of a polymer influences its burning behavior in the cone calorimeter. The color of a sample influences the amount of absorbed and reemitted thermal radiation, emitted by the cone calorimeter. This contribution presents the effect of different sample colors by performing cone calorimeter experiments with both transparent and black polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plates. Experiments were performed for four different heat fluxes: 25 kW/m2, 35 kW/m2, 50 kW/m2, and 75 kW/m2. All tests were autoignition experiments and 6-mm-thick PMMA plates were used. The effect of sample color on autoignition time, heat release rate, and mass loss data as well as oxygen (O2), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) production was assessed. Black PMMA showed a higher heat release rate (HRR) in the beginning of the tests, whereas transparent PMMA has a higher peak HRR. The color of the samples does not seem to influence the ignition time.