Accession Number:

AD0750773

Title:

The Fire Retardance Effectiveness of High Molecular Weight, High Oxygen Containing Inorganic Additives in Cellulosic and Synthetic Materials

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

STANFORD RESEARCH INST MENLO PARK CA MENLO PARK

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1972-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

68.0

Abstract:

A feasibility study was conducted to determine whether high-molecular-weight inorganic additives, particularly those with high oxygen content, can be used effectively as permanent flame retardants for cotton, rayon, roofing material, nylon, and polyester. Results show that cellulosic materials treated with either phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstic acid, or ammonium phosohotungstate do not sustain flaming ignition when exposed to an irradiance of 6.2 cal cm-2 sec-1 from a C02 laser for 6.3 seconds. Furthermore, the retardant treatment caused a drastic change in the decomposition products of the materials and increased the yields of char. Cedar shakes treated with either phosphotungstic acid or its insoluble ammonium salt required 65 seconds of exposure to a Fisher burner for ignition, whereas 4 seconds of exposure caused ignition in untreated shakes. Moreover, the treated specimens cease 1 flaming after they were removed from the Fisher flame and the untreated shakes continue to burn even when they were removed from the ignition source. More extensive evaluation of the efficiency of these treatments and of our technique is needed to substantiate our present findings. For example, the procedure used to incorporate the phosphotungstic acid and its salt into nylon and polyester must be modified before the optimal loading and efficiency of the retardant can be achieved.

Descriptors:

Subject Categories:

  • Textiles
  • Wood, Paper and Related Forestry Products
  • Safety Engineering

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


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