Material Flammability: A Combustion Science Perspective

Extinction limits of solid fuels are examined in two flame configurations: stagnation-point diffusion flame and spreading flame. In the first part of the paper, using a combustion model for the stagnation-point flame, the existence of critical flame temperature and critical fuel mass flux for extinction are examined as a function of the flow parameter. In the second part of the paper, the importance of flame stabilization zone in spreading flames is illustrated by an experimental example. Understanding of the events occurring in this zone is crucial for addressing the question of solid extinction limits.