Effect of heat flux on the burning behaviour of foam and foam/Nomex III fabric combination in the cone calorimeter

A comprehensive characterization of the burning behaviour of foam and foam/fabric combination has been carried out at different levels of heat flux varying from 10 to 70 kW/m2 using cone calorimetry. Peak heat release rate (PHRR) was found to increase for foam and foam/fabric combination with increase in the level of heat flux. However, considerable reduction in PHRR was noted for foam/fabric combination vis-à-vis that of foam alone. Foam/fabric combination was found to exhibit two-step decomposition behaviour at heat flux levels of 50 kW/m2 and above. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide yields were found to be lower for foam/fabric combination. Smoke toxicity, as indicated by the index of combustion completeness, was found to be lower for the foam/fabric combination.