Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Effects of initial molecular weight and thermal stability of polymer samples on horizontal flame spreading behavior and spread rate were studied by comparing results between two polystyrene, PS, samples with different initial molecular weights and between two poly (methylmethacrylate), PMMA, samples with different thermal stability and initial molecular weights. The flame spread rate of the higher molecular weight PS sample was about 25% larger than that for the low molecular weight PS sample and the flame spread rate of the higher molecular weight PMMA sample was about four times larger than that for the low molecular weight sample. The sample with high initial molecular weight does not form molten polymer near the flame front and the flame spreads steadily. However, the sample with low initial molecular weight forms molten polymer and the opposed slow fluid motion of molten polymer along the inclined vaporizing surface against the traveling flame significantly affects flame spreading behavior and its rate.