An Investigation of the Combustion Characteristics of Some Polymers Using the Diffusion-Flame Technique.

Abstract

A means for producing combustion of polymers under well-controlled conditions has been employed for study of their fundamental combustion characteristics. In the subject work, a planar diffusion flame is established between an axi-symmetric, 'stagnation-point' flow of gaseous oxidant and the pyrolysis product vapors emerging from the polymer surface lying below. Surface regression rate, surface temperature, and oxidant mass flow rate (the principal control variable) were determined. Plexiglas, Plexiglas-55, polyethylene, polypropylene, Delrin, nylon 6-6, ICRPG polyurethane binder, and polystyrene were tested. Surface regression rate and surface temperature were correlated by means of an Arrhenius function, and these results are utilized to examine previously proposed models of the surface pyrolysis process. The surface regression rate and oxidant mass flow rate were used with a fluid-dynamic analysis of the combustion region to predict the effective heat of gasification for each of the above mentioned polymers. Applications and implications of the above findings are discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0727990

Entities

People

  • Richard B. Cole
  • Robert F. Mcalevy Iii
  • William S. Blazowski

Organizations

  • Stevens Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combustion
  • Dielectric Polymers
  • Diffusion
  • Flow
  • Flow Rate
  • Mass
  • Mass Flow
  • Plastics
  • Plexiglas
  • Polymers
  • Polypropylene
  • Pyrolysis
  • Resins
  • Stagnation Point
  • Surface Temperature
  • Transient Response Analysis

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.