Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

A non-linear dynamical-systems model for the ignition of thermally thin thermoplastics in the cone calorimeter is investigated. The model contains equations for solid phase and gas phase processes which are coupled through heat and mass transfer. We use the model to evaluate the critical heat flux required for ignition and investigate how this depends upon the degradation kinetics of the thermoplastic. The concept of a critical surface temperature defining criticality is validated.