Flammability Testing of Polymers

Flammability is the ability of a material to undergo easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion. This article provides information on flammability tests of polymers and codes and regulations that cite these tests. Many organizations are involved in the characterization and specification of flammability properties, resulting in several categorization strategies for flammability tests, including tests for specific fire response characteristics, research tests versus acceptance tests, tests for different levels of severity, and tests for basis of origin. The article presents an overview on the basic approaches in improving the fire resistance of polymers and the burning process (heating, decomposition, ignition, combustion, and propagation). It provides a brief description on the test methods which are classified into two types, one based on fire response characteristics and the other on particular applications of polymeric materials.