FLAMMABILITY IN UNUSUAL ATMOSPHERES. PART 1. PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF MATERIALS IN HYPERBARIC ATMOSPHERES CONTAINING OXYGEN, NITROGEN, AND/OR HELIUM
Abstract
A study of the flammability of fabrics and other solids under unusual atmospheric conditions was initiated. The most profound effect on both ease of ignition and linear burning rate was caused by oxygen enrichment. For example, many materials which did not ignite in 21% oxygen ignited and burned readily at 31% or 41% oxygen. With a given atmosphere, increase in pressure was often effective in causing ignition where no ignition occurred at lower pressures. Substitution of helium for nitrogen in mixtures with oxygen had two generally significant effects. Helium decreased the tendency of a material to ignite. This effect was shown to be due largely to the high thermal conductivity of helium. Once ignited, burning rates were often much faster in helium than nitrogen.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0644556
Entities
People
- F. J. Woods
- J. E. Johnson
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory