Prediction of the burning rates of non-charring polymers

This study provides a thorough examination of whether a numerical pyrolysis model, which describes transient energy transport and chemical reactions taking place in a one-dimensional object, can be used as a practical tool for prediction and/or extrapolation of the results of fire calorimetry tests. The focus is on non-charring polymers, in particular — poly(methylmethacrylate), high-impact polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene. First, relevant properties of these materials were measured and/or obtained from the literature. Subsequently, the values of these properties were used to simulate gasification and cone calorimetry experiments, which were performed under a broad range of conditions. A comparison with the experimental results indicates that the model gives reasonably good predictions of the mass loss and heat release histories. It also predicts the evolution of temperature inside the material samples.