EVALUATING VARIABILITY IN THE FIRE BEHAVIOR OF MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PMMA AND IDENTIFYING A REPLACEMENT MaCFP-PMMA

Published

June 29, 2025

Author(s)

Karen De Lannoye, Isaac Leventon, Michael Heck

Abstract

This study examines variations in fire behavior among over 20 commercially available poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples from different suppliers. Previous studies, have demonstrated the importance of kinetic parameters — describing thermal decomposition of combustible solids — on flame spread. Therefore, samples were first tested in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The most pronounced difference was observed between cast and extruded PMMA: a 20% variation in peak mass loss rate and a 12 K difference in the corresponding temperature. The results of the thermogravimetric analysis were used to select seven PMMAs for further testing. PMMAs were selected based on one of the following criteria (1) thermal degradation behavior most similar to a PMMA used in an international experimental round-robin (MaCFP-PMMA), to facilitate the identification of a suitable replacement; or (2) thermal degradation behavior that differed significantly, to capture a broad range of material responses. Each sample had the same nominal thickness (5.5 ± 0.5) mm. These seven PMMAs were further tested in a gasification apparatus. The mass loss rate measured in the gasification apparatus confirm two selected cast black PMMAs as good replacement candidates. Variations were observed in the onset time of decomposition, peak mass loss rate, and backside temperature across the remaining PMMA samples. Upward flame spread experiments were also conducted on these seven materials. It was found that, for the investigated materials, sample deformation had a greater influence on fire growth rate (changes in mass loss rate and heat release rate) than differences in material properties. The peak mass loss rate during flame spread tests on extruded PMMA is significantly higher than that of cast PMMA due to pool fire formation.

Conference Dates

June 29-July 2, 2025

Conference Location

Egham, GB

Conference Title

Interflam

Pub Type

Conferences

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Citation

De Lannoye, K. , Leventon, I. and Heck, M. (2025), EVALUATING VARIABILITY IN THE FIRE BEHAVIOR OF MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PMMA AND IDENTIFYING A REPLACEMENT MaCFP-PMMA, Interflam, Egham, GB, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=960174 (Accessed November 23, 2025)