Influence of Solid Phase Thermal Properties on Flame Spread over Polymers

Abstract

To determine the influence of solid phase thermal properties on the laminar flame spread over polymer sheets, several experiments were carried out to measure the spreading velocity of polymethyl met-acrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) samples modified by the addition of copper wires, metallic foils and metallic and inert powders. A mild but not negligible influence of the thermal diffusivity on the spread rate was detected.