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Search Publications by: Rick D. Davis (Fed)

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Displaying 76 - 100 of 184

Evaluating Fire Blocking Performance of Barrier Fabrics

October 15, 2013
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Shaun M. Flynn, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis
The purpose of fire blocking barrier materials is to reduce the flammability of soft furnishings ( mattresses and upholstered furniture) by preventing or delaying direct flame impingement from open flames and/or heat transfer from smoldering ignition

Nanoparticles in Flame-Retardant Coatings for Flexible Polyurethane Foams: Effects on Flammability and Nanoparticle Release

May 15, 2013
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Rick D. Davis, Yeon S. Kim, Richard H. Harris Jr., Marc R. Nyden, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Nasir M. Uddin
Nanoparticles can effectively reduce polymer flammability; however, the impact of nanoparticles on environmental and health safety is still unclear. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to develop and investigate the effect of nanoparticle-rich

Impact of Test and Foam Design on Smoldering

May 14, 2013
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Rick D. Davis
Smoldering propensity of fabrics used in upholstered furniture can be assessed using foam mockups according to the CPSC proposed regulation. This approach requires a polyurethane flexible foam with reproducible and well- characterized smoldering. The

Guidelines for Evaluating Fire Blocking Barrier Fabrics

April 18, 2013
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Shaun M. Flynn, Rick D. Davis, John R. Shields
This document provides guidelines to quantify fire performance properties of fire blocking barrier materials used in soft furnishings. In an attempt to enable a priori selection of fire barrier materials such that the final upholstered product complies

Thermal and Burning Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Composites Using Cellulose-Based Intumescing Flame Retardants

December 21, 2012
Author(s)
Douglas M. Fox, Srilatha Temburni, Melissa Novy, Laura Flynn, Mauro Zammarano, Yeon S. Kim, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Rick D. Davis
Poly(lactic acid) was flame retarded using cellulose-based intumescing flame retardants. Cellulose was an excellent carbon source in combination with ammonium polyphosphate (APP), exhibiting good thermal stabilities and UL-94 ratings of V-0

Smoldering in Flexible Polyurethane Foams: the Effect of Foam Morphology

December 18, 2012
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer, Rick D. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Li Piin Sung, Douglas M. Fox, Shivani N. Mehta
Smoldering is a self-sustaining heterogeneous oxidation reaction that induces a slow, low temperature, flameless combustion. Flexible polyurethane foams (PUF) are prone to smoldering due to their high air permeability, low density and high specific surface

Standard Operating Procedures for Smolder Ignition Testing of Upholstery Fabrics

December 11, 2012
Author(s)
Rick D. Davis, Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer
This manuscript describes a methodology to measure the influence of an upholstery cover fabric to promote smoldering mass loss of a small-scale mock-up. The primary test metric is total mock-up mass loss after 45 min exposure to the smoldering ignition

Factors Influencing the Smoldering Performance of Polyurethane Foam

September 26, 2012
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer, Rick D. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Shivani N. Mehta
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether polyurethane foam (PUF) could be produced as a standard reference material for ultimate use in a standard test intended to ensure the smoldering performance of commercially available upholstered furniture

Assessment of Factors Affecting Fire Performance of Mattresses: A Review

September 3, 2012
Author(s)
Rick D. Davis, Shonali Nazare, Kathryn M. Butler
An in-depth analysis of U.S. residential fire statistics shows that although the total number of fires and deaths due to mattress fires has dropped as a result of several regulatory approaches, the mattress/bedding fires continue to account for one of the