Effect of carbon nanofibers on flammability of polyurethane foams

• Untreated flexible polyurethane foams (PUFs) are prone to rapid fire growth due to their low density and thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the low viscosity of the decomposition products generates severe dripping that increases the fire hazard related to the combustion of PUFs. In fact, this downward flow of flaming liquid often results in a pool-fire that promotes flame propagation and boosts the rate of heat release (HRR) due to a significant increase in the burning area and to feed-back between the flame on the pool-fire and the residual foam. In this work the effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on the HRR is investigated with special attention given to melt dripping phenomena. A modified cone calorimeter test has been developed for this purpose. It is shown that CNFs form an entangled fiber network which eliminates melt dripping and decreases the HRR.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cone calorimeter

Decomposition products

Downward flow

Fiber networks

Fire growth

Flame propagation

Flexible Polyurethanes

Low density

Low viscosity

Polyurethane Foam

Rate of heat release

Carbon nanofibers

Fires

Flammability

Rigid foamed plastics

Foams

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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