The effect of environmental temperature upon the physical characteristics of the smoke produced by burning wood and PVC samples

Abstract

AbstractData are presented which show the effect of elevated environmental temperature upon smoke particle characteristics of wood (Douglas fir) and a rigid PVC, under both flaming and nonflaming combustion in air. The physical data obtainbed include the smoke particle average diameter, the smoke optical densities in red and blue light, and the weight loss of the sample. The average particle dimeter, the smoke optical densities in red and blue light, and the weight loss of the sample. The average particle diameter and optical densities in red and blue light, and the weight loss of the sample. The average particle dimater and optical densities were obtained uwing in in situ optical system which measures forward scattered light at two angles and transmitte light at two wavelengths. Data were taken for vertically mounted samples exposed to a radiant flux of 5 W cm−2 in environments at a room temperatures, 100°C, 200°C and 300°C. The result indicate that in flaming test higher environmental temperatures general result in greater smoke optical densities and larger smoke particles, while in nonflaming tests higherl temperatures in lower smoke densities and smaller smoke particles, for wood. These results may explain why small‐scale test data (room temperature environment) do not often correlate well with full‐scale data (often at elevated environmental temperatures).