Insulation materials play an important role in preventing the translation of moisture, heat, sound, electricity and other quantities. Due to the extraordinary properties of insulation, as well other properties, they are widley represented and used in industry and every day life.
In my thesis i focused on flammability of insulation materials, the standards for classification and on the prevention of the development of fire and it's consequences. The main task of fire-resistant materials is to prevent the development of fire and it's spread, which is crucial to protect against the fire consequences, in addition to the absence of sufficient temperature of the ignition source and oxidizing agent.
Based on the research of physical, chemical and thermal characteristics in the thesis, insulating building materials (stone and glass wool, foam glass), insulating plastics (polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE, polystyrene PS, polyetherimide PEI) and insulating fibres (carbon fibres, polyimide fibres PI, polyester fibres PES) provide a high primary insulation function with a thermal conductivity λ < 0,1 W/mK. In addition, insulating materials with their fire-retardant properties provide an adequate level of fire resistance for buildings and objects, as all materials, with the exception of PS, have high densities, which allows a favourable composition of the material. Specific heats for plastic and fibres occupy values between 1,1 and 2,0 kJ/kgK, while values for building materials are above 700 kJ/kgK and are able to absorb significantly more heat. Melting point for plastics are below 500 °C, therefore they form flammable droplets for spreading the fire much faster, than building materials with melting points around 1000 °C. The oxygen index, which can only be determined for plastic and fibres, is above 25 vol. %, so they fulfill the ability to inhibit combustion.
In the case of burning or smoldering of insulation materials, harmful gaseous products are released, which can cause permanent damage to the organism. The greatest danger is presented by carbon monoxide CO and CO2 dioxide, which are formed with high proportion in the combustion of all materials and are not detected by the humans senses. Therefore, various extinguishing mechanisms are used to prevent or limit the spread of the fire and impact of potential hazards in the shortest possible time.
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