The work described in this presentation is being conducted under the "flammability of materials" project which is part of the fire safety research program of March, 1995 General Motors/US Department of transportation Settlement Agreement. For this report twenty two components, consisting of seventy one polymeric parts used on a 1996 model year passenger van were studied. A high resolution thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to determine thermal decomposition temperatures, and rates of decomposition. TGA runs were conducted in nitrogen and air atmospheres. For the different polymers investigated the ranges of decomposition temperatures were between 223 degrees C and 552 degrees C in nitrogen, and 240 degrees C to 565 degrees C in air. Correlation was made between the thermal properties and the flammability characteristics quantified in this study. Ignition temperatures estimated from the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) values were about 14% higher than the decomposition temperatures from the thermal properties measurements. The experimental Thermal Response Parameter (TRP) values were about 28% higher than the TRP values calculated from thermal analysis. A rigorous correlation between the thermal properties and flammability characteristics of the plastics in components and parts of vehicles will be sought. (A)
Abstract