Polymer flammability. II

Abstract

AbstractThe responses of a polymer flame to changes of specimen diameter, ignition position, and stability of the burning surface were determined. These extrinsic flame parameters restricted the transport of oxygen from the environment to the burning surface. With increasing restriction the oxygen demand from the environment for self‐sustained combustion increased from a minimum oxygen demand at maximum access of environmental oxygen to the burning surface. This increase in oxygen demand was measured and correlated with surface oxygen concentrations estimated from the diffusion data of Part I. The minimum oxygen demand was demonstrated as characteristic for a given polymer and intrinsic in its chemical structure. This minimum oxygen demand, termed intrinsic combustibility, has been correlated with a polymer's thermooxidative stability, measured by thermogravimetric analysis at specific conditions. An intrinsic combustibility scale for polymers is given. In contrast, polymer flammability, as commonly measured in air, is interpreted as a variable property that depends on the extent of the interaction between extrinsic parameters, which are set by the testing configuration, with intrinsic combustibility.