Citation

Dyakonov AJ, Grider JA. J. Fire Sci. 1999; 17(3): 175-187.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The temperature programmed decomposition of cellulosic fabric was studied. Temperature Programmed Reaction (TPR) experiments performed in an inert atmosphere revealed that UV irradiation of #6 cotton duck fabric promoted an increase in the degree of cellulose decomposition, while decreasing the onset temperature of decomposition. DSC-in-air experiments using these samples verified these observations. DSC spectra for non-irradiated samples revealed little difference in heat flows. Intramolecular redox reactions induced during uv irradiation formed hydroperoxide groups, generating relatively low heat flow. These results imply that the major role of incorporated oxygen was the facilitation of low heat cellulose degradation and cleavage reactions. Potassium iodide introduced into the fabric resulted in lower cellulose degradation activity in an inert gas at temperatures below 240 degrees C. Reduction of the peroxide groups in the cellulose by iodide ions was assumed to cause this change. Monoethanolamine and nicotine were also applied to the cellulosic fabric, decreasing the rate of COx formation. DSC spectra showed that low temperature heat-producing cleavage was suppressed. Nicotine and other components of cigarette smoke were found to act as inhibitors of the onset of cellulosic smolder, thus preventing the smolder of cellulosic fabric.