Experimental study on the characteristics of horizontal flame spread over XPS surface on plateau.
A series of comparative laboratory-scale experiments were carried out in the Lhasa plateau and the Hefei plain respectively to investigate the characteristics of flame spread over the extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, a typical thermal insulation material. Flame shape and the temperature profile in solid phase were monitored, and the effects of altitude on the heat transfer process were analyzed. The results show that the temperature rise with time undergoes three stages: the preheating stage, the melting stage and the pyrolysis stage. The durations of the melting and pyrolysis stages on plateau are longer than that in plain, which sequentially results in a lower flame spread rate on plateau. Comparing of the temperature change rate curve on plateau with that in plain, it is found that the peak characteristics of the curves in the pyrolysis stage changed from single peak to multi-peaks, which suggests that the altitude difference might change the pyrolysis mechanisms of XPS material. Moreover, the sample scale effects on flame spread are also explored. Two different regimes are found in flame spread behavior with sample scale at the both altitudes. The spread rate drops with sample scale in convection regime and rises in radiation regime.
Further studies on fire retardant polystyrene by Friedel–Crafts chemistry
Abstract The combination of a copolymer of 4-vinylbenzyl alcohol and styrene with 2-ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate (DPP) and with metal chlorides has been studied by TGA, radiative gasification, Cone Calorimetry, and oxygen index measurements. Evidence is presented in support of a cross-linking reaction with the additives and the copolymer, which proceeds through a Friedel–Crafts mechanism. This approach reduces the peak heat release rate (HRR) by 60% as measured in the Cone Calorimeter. There is a significant reduction in the mass loss rate during the thermal degradation, and evidence of char formation is observed in the radiative gasification experiments.
Strategies for glass based photonic system integration
There is a clear tendency to integrate more and more opto-electronic and micro-optical components like optical fibers, laser diodes, modulators, isolators, beam-splitting components and micro lenses in also increasingly dense and complex assemblies. The paper will discuss thin glass as a very promising base material for that kind of photonic packaging on interposer and board level including optical interconnection using fibers.