Solid polymeric materials undergo both physical and chemical changes when heat energy supplied into them, this will result in undesirable changes to the properties of materials. (ASTM) definitions should provide helpful guidelines. Thermal decompositi...
Solid polymeric materials undergo both physical and chemical changes when heat energy supplied into them, this will result in undesirable changes to the properties of materials. (ASTM) definitions should provide helpful guidelines. Thermal decomposition is 'a process of extensive chemical species change caused by heat' In terms of fire, whereby chemical decomposition of solid polymer generates gaseous fuel vapors, which can be mixed with air on the surface of the polymer. Under the condition of proper concentration of mixed fuel gas and surrounding temperature, it ignites above the solid material. Heat energy released from this combustion reaction feed back into the solid material to continue production of gaseous fuel vapors or volatiles. As such, this process can be a continues feed back loop. In the process of general fire phenomena, each thermal decomposition characteristic which various polymers have affect on fire growth. A measure of how fast thermal decomposition take place on the polymer decide rates of emission of gaseous fuel vapors. Hence, it can be important factor to affect on fire growth. In this study, rate of thermal decomposition of polymer analyzed through the TGA(Thermal Gravimetric Analysis) test. Result of TGA test was represented to the form of Arrhenius 1-order reaction rate equation by way of linear interpolation method. And then, effect of thermal decomposition rate on fire growth was examined through the numerical method with FDS(Fire Dynamics Simulator).