Pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter: A tool to assess flame retarded PC/ABS materials?

The pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC) as a tool for assessing the flammability of a polycarbonate (bisphenol A)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (PC/ABS) blend containing different flame retardants and additives was investigated. Strategies are proposed for analysing multi-step decomposition. The heat release capacity (HRC) and total heat release (HR), obtained by PCFC, are related to the char yield and the heat of complete combustion of the volatiles. Physical affects such as dripping, wicking, and sample thickness are not described, nor are chemical effects such as flame inhibition because pyrolysis and combustion are forced to completion on a small (milligram) sample. Varying the combustion temperature or oxygen concentration results in incomplete combustion as occuring in real fires. The correlations with flammability (UL 94, LOI) and forced flaming combustion in a cone calorimeter are discussed. The best correlation is found between HR and LOI. Reasonable correlation exists between HRC and char residue with the LOI and for HRC and HR with peak heat release rate (pHRR) in the cone calorimeter. Combining results from PCFC with those from oxygen bomb or cone calorimeter tests yields an additional understanding of fire behaviour.