Material description

Material ID: OTH23

Material type: Glass reinforced polymer composite.

Polymer: Polyester with polystyrene co-polymer (58%)

Additives (fire retardants, fillers or traces of inorganic elements): Silicon Oxide (24%), Bromine (6%), Calcium (4%), Phosphorus (2%), Magnesium (2%), Zinc (2%), Sulfur (1%), traces of other elements (<1%)

Core thickness: 3.87mm

 

Table 1. Estimated mass concentration of compounds.
CompoundMass Concentration (%)
Polyester with polystyrene co-polymer (-)58
Silicon Oxide (SiO2)24
Bromine (Br)6
Calcium (Ca)4
Phosphorus (P)2
Magnesium (Mg)2
Zinc (Zn)2
Sulfur (S)1
Traces of chlorine (Cl)<1
Traces of sodium (Na)<1

A. Material composition identification

A.1 Attenuated total reflection – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR)

Table 2. FTIR compound identification.
Identified Compounds
Polyester with polystyrene co-polymer (-)
Silicon Oxide (SiO2)
Bromine (Br)
...
Figure 1 . FTIR spectra: Absorbance percentage versus wavenumber from the sample.
...
Figure 2. FTIR spectra: Absorbance percentage versus wavenumber from the sample and the identified compounds.

A.2 Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF)

Table 2. Inorganic elements and their mass concentration identified with EDXRF.
ElementMass Concentration (%)
Si14
Br9
Ca5
P3
Zn3
Mg2
S1
Cl1
Fe<1
Ti<1
...
Figure 3. EDXRF spectra. Counts vs energy. Identified elements are shown as vertical lines.

B. Thermogravimetric analysis

Table 3. Mass fraction of residue after thermal decomposition.
ConditionFraction of mass residue at 800°C
Non-oxidative (nitrogen)0.48
Oxidative (air)0.43
Table 4. Temperature and amplitude of main peaks in non-oxidative conditions.
Peak IDTemperature peak (°C)Amplitude of peak (°C-1)
Peak 13816.54 x 10-3
Table 5. Temperature and amplitude of main peaks in oxidative conditions.
Peak IDTemperature peak (°C)Amplitude of peak (°C-1)
Peak 13646.8 x 10-3
Peak 24621.86 x 10-3
...
Figure 4. Normalised mass (solid line) and derivative of the normalised mass (dashed line) in 150 ml min-1 of nitrogen and a heating rate of 20°C min-1.
...
Figure 5. Normalised mass (solid line) and derivative of the normalised mass (dashed line) in 150 ml min-1 of air and a heating rate of 20°C min-1 .

C. Gross Heat of Combustion

Table 7. Gross Heat of Combustion individual results for sample.
TrialΔHc [kJ g-1]
Trial 114.20
Trial 215.33
Trial 312.94
Average14.16
Std dev1.20

D. Ignition parameters

Table 8. Summary of ignition parameters for sample.
Critical heat flux for ignitionIgnition temperatureTotal heat transfer coefficient of lossesApparent thermal inertia
q̇″cr [kW m−2]Tig [°C]hr [W m-2 K-1]kρc [kW2 m-4 K-2 s]
1435837.300.925
...
Figure 6. Time-to-ignition vs incident radiant heat flux for samples.

E. Burning behaviour

Table 9. Summary of key burning behaviour metrics.
Heat fluxTestTime to ignitionFraction of mass residuePeak heat release rateTotal energy released
q̇″inc [kW m-2] tig [s]mres [-]q̇″p [kW m-2]Qt [MJ m-2]
35 kW m-2
Test 1930.65274.4458.78
Test 21060.62264.3557.11
Avg1000.64269.3957.95
50 kW m-2
Test 1440.62275.8567.50
Test 2350.63260.1561.21
Avg400.6326864.36
60 kW m-2
Test 1280.62296.9561.34
Test 2270.62267.3557.24
Avg280.62282.1559.29
80 kW m-2
Test 1----
Test 2----
Avg----
...
Figure 7. Normalised mass loss over time for samples tested with 35, 50, 60 and 80 kW m-2.
...
Figure 8. Heat release rate per unit area over time for samples tested with 35, 50, 60 and 80 kW m-2.
Table 10. Effective Heat of Combustion individual results for sample.
TestΔHc [kJ g-1]
35 kW m-2 (Test 1)22.45
35 kW m-2 (Test 2)21.57
50 kW m-2 (Test 1)22.73
50 kW m-2 (Test 2)22.29
60 kW m-2 (Test 1)21.43
60 kW m-2 (Test 2)19.95
80 kW m-2 (Test 1)-
80 kW m-2 (Test 2)-
Average21.74
Std dev1.01

F. Flame Spread

Table 11. Minimum heat flux for flame spread rate and minimum flame spread rate for sample.
Orientationq̇″min.spread [kW m-2]Vf.min [mm s-1]
Horizontal3.40-
Vertical3.20-
...
Figure 9. Lateral flame spread rate versus heat flux.
...
Figure 10. Vertical flame spread rate versus heat flux.
...
Figure 11. Vf-1/2 as function of q̇″ext in horizontal configuration.
...
Figure 12. Vf-1/2 as function of q̇″ext in vertical configuration.
Table 12. Flame spread parameter results for sample.
OrientationTrial(kρcpΦh2)12 [m32 s12 kW-1]Φ [kW2 m-3]
Horizontal19.3911.99
Horizontal29.35712.07
Vertical11.378999
Vertical21.125999