Experimental Analysis of Composite Materials Behaviour at Fire

Abstract

Composite materials are new materials with special properties and qualities. They currently have a wide range of applicability covering various fields from medicine to aerospace construction, from sports equipment to boats, from architectural constructions to cars, etc. Due to their use on such a large and diverse scale, it is important to study and analyse their behaviour in various situations and environmental conditions. This paper aims the experimental study of the fire behaviour of four composite materials (High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Cellular Polypropylene, Compact Polycarbonate and Polypropylene Copolymer (PP-C)) used for various applications in interior or exterior architectural constructions. The experimental determinations, performed on specimens located horizontally or vertically against the standardized flame with a power of 50W, were performed according to IEC 60695-11-10: 2013, in the fire risk testing laboratory of the National Institute for Research and Development and Testing in Electrical Engineering - ICMET Craiova. The experimental results showed that out of the four materials studied, only the Polycarbonate specimens behaved well and could meet the standardized classification criteria.