Material description

Material ID: ACP10

Material type: Aluminium composite panel with a core consisting of an aluminium foil honeycomb structure connected with a polyurethane-based adhesive containing an inorganic filler.

Polymer: Polyurethane (-%)

Additives (fire retardants, fillers or traces of inorganic elements): Aluminium (96%), Magnesium (2%), Iron (1%), traces of other elements (<1%)

Core thickness: 4.26mm

Thickness of single metal skin: 1mm

Table 1. Estimated mass concentration of compounds.

CompoundMass Concentration (%)
Polyurethane (PU)-
Aluminium (Al)96
Magnesium (Mg)2
Iron (Fe)1
Traces of sodium (Na)<1
Traces of silicon (Si)<1
Traces of manganese (Mn)<1
Traces of copper (Cu)<1
Traces of calcium (Ca)<1

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 (%)
Al96
Mg2
Fe1
Na<1
Si<1
Mn<1
Cu<1
Ca<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)0.29
Oxidative (air)0.25

Table 4. Temperature and amplitude of main peaks in non-oxidative conditions.

Peak IDTemperature peak (°C)Amplitude of peak (°C-1)
Peak 13262.96 x 10-3
Peak 23832.56 x 10-3
Peak 34733.38 x 10-3
Peak 47492.48 x 10-3

Table 5. Temperature and amplitude of main peaks in oxidative conditions.

Peak IDTemperature peak (°C)Amplitude of peak (°C-1)
Peak 13234.32 x 10-3
Peak 24601.86 x 10-3
Peak 35167.25 x 10-3
Peak 47322.13 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 119.57
Trial 220.14
Trial 318.94
Average19.55
Std dev0.60
Additional information:

Only the organic component (the resin) is tested in the bomb calorimeter, as described in Protocols for the Material Library supporting documents.

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]
15.4037638.900.466

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 1390.66205.188.09
Test 2350.65225.718.54
Avg370.66215.448.31
50 kW m-2
Test 1240.65320.6917.52
Test 2230.70322.8314.80
Avg240.67321.7616.16
60 kW m-2
Test 1180.81304.018.48
Test 2160.84334.998.55
Avg170.83319.508.52
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)42.36
35 kW m-2 (Test 2)39.83
50 kW m-2 (Test 1)43.89
50 kW m-2 (Test 2)52.74
60 kW m-2 (Test 1)78.60
60 kW m-2 (Test 2)90.90
80 kW m-2 (Test 1)-
80 kW m-2 (Test 2)-
Average58.05
Std dev21.49

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]
Horizontal7.801
Vertical7.9016.40

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]
Horizontal12.16866.53
Horizontal22.79439.43
Vertical1-1000
Vertical2-1000