Research On The Process Of Compound Combustion Of Glass Fiber And EPS Foam

As one of the most common building insulation materials, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is often used together with glass fiber while it has a certain fire hazard. In this paper, the process of compound combustion of EPS foam and glass fiber is studied.The pyrolysis characteristics of EPS foam and glass fiber in air was studied by the use of coupling techniques of TG and DSC. The weight loss of EPS is during 253.4℃～391.9℃, while the weight loss ratio is 96.6%. The weight loss of glass fiber is during 168.4℃～ 766.7℃, while the weight loss ratio is only 9.91%. There is mainly a physical change on glass fiber with no combustion or pyrolysis.The combustion characteristic of EPS foam and glass fiber was studied by the use of MCC. The heat release rate and total heat release of glass fiber is negligible comparing to EPS foam.EPS foam is classified as HB by UL94, which is flammable material. Glass fiber is classified as VO, which is non-combustible materials.The combustion characteristic of EPS foam, the combination of EPS foam and one layer of glass fiber, the combination of EPS foam and two layers of glass fiber in different thermal radiation flux was studied by the use of CONE. The ignition time and the time at peak heat release rate of EPS is shorten, total heat release has a certain promotion, and EPS burns more fully by the existence of glass fiber. Thermal thin type lighting model was used to calculate the parameters of the three samples. The critical heat flux of the three samples is 18.8 kW·m-2, 13.2 kW·m-2 and 13.8 kW·m-2 respectively. The critical heat flux decreases and EPS is easier to catch fire by the existence of glass fiber.The influence of glass fiber on the flame propagation process of EPS foam was studied by simulate combustion experiments. Due to the existence of glass fiber, the flame propagation speed is reduced during the combustion process of EPS foam. But at the same time, the spread of flame becomes stable and has a better sustainability. Thus the existence of glass fiber is advantageous to the spread of flame in the process of combustion of EPS foam.