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PUBLICATIONS

Absorption and Reflection of Infrared Radiation by Polymers in Fire-Like Environments

Published

Author(s)

Gregory T. Linteris, Mauro Zammarano, Boris Wilthan, Leonard M. Hanssen

Abstract

In large-scale fires, the input of energy to burning materials occurs predominantly by radiative transfer. The in-depth absorption of radiant energy by a polymer influences its ignition time and burning rate. The present investigation examines two methods for obtaining the absorption coefficient of polymers for infrared radiation from high-temperature sources: a broadband method and a spectral method. Data on the total average broadband transmittance and absorptance for eleven thermoplastics are presented (as are reflectance data), and the absorptance is found to vary with thickness. Implications for modeling of mass loss experiments are discussed.
Citation
Fire and Materials
Volume
36
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.1113

Keywords

pyrolysis modeling, material flammability, IR absorption, polymer diathermicity
Materials flammability

Citation

Linteris, G. , Zammarano, M. , Wilthan, B. and Hanssen, L. (2012), Absorption and Reflection of Infrared Radiation by Polymers in Fire-Like Environments, Fire and Materials, [online], https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.1113 (Accessed October 10, 2025)

Issues

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Created July 17, 2012, Updated November 10, 2018
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