Flammability behavior and thermal decomposition kinetics of aircraft textiles

Wool has found widespread use in aircraft cabins as it provides passengers' well-being through seating comfort and more importantly safety, thanks to the relatively low-flammability associated to its structure. The first part of the study focuses on the investigation of the flammability behavior of wool fabrics flame retarded with a phosphorus sulphur based compound and a metal complex compound by conventional padding and exhaustion techniques. The flame spread and optical density of smoke generated during combustion were measured according to the the Vertical Bunsen Burner Test (12 s) and Smoke Density Test procedures applied to aircraft materials. The inherent heat release from the fabrics were measured by the micro-scale combustion calorimeter. Important fire response parameters such as the heat release rate and the smoke release rate were measured by the cone calorimeter. In the second part of the study, the thermal and themo-oxodative decomposition behavior of the materials were investigated by the simultaneous thermal analysis. Friedman, Kissinger-Akahira Sunose and Invariant Kinetic Paremeters methods were asopted to investigate the kinetic parameters of thermal and thermo-oxidative decomposition of both wool fibers and yarns were evaluated by. Providing that the effective treatment conditions are met, the flame retardant treatment could lower the flammability, heat release, increase the activation energy of decomposition processes and lead to a change in the prevealing mechanism.