Flammability Measurements
Evaluate the fire resistance of plastic materials
Flammability measurements, also known as flame behavior tests, are crucial to evaluate the reaction of plastic materials to exposure to fire or heat sources.
These analyses provide essential information on the flame propagation speed, the self-extinguishing capacity and the generation of fumes or dripping of molten material, allowing to establish the flammability class of a material and to guarantee its safe use.
Flammability measurements performed by Plastanalisi
The UL94 and Glow Wire Test flame behavior tests simulate thermal stresses that can be produced by heat or ignition sources, to assess the fire hazard.
UL-94 Test
With this test, the ability of a plastic material to self-extinguish after being exposed to a flame is evaluated. The UL-94 V test involves placing the sample (standardized specimen of 1.6mm or 3.2mm thickness) in a vertical position using a special clamp, the specimen is placed in contact with a flame for 10 seconds at the free lower end. After this first contact, the behavior of the sample is observed: immediate extinguishing, dripping etc., as soon as the sample extinguishes, the flame is applied again for 10 seconds.
Using specific classification tables, the material is assigned a V0, V1, or V2 rating based on observations made after the two repeated flame exposures.
Glow Wire Test
The glow wire test (IEC/EN 60695) simulates the effect of thermal stresses that could originate in electronic products such as overloaded resistors, incandescent elements, etc.
The test involves placing a specimen in contact for a specified period of time with an incandescent wire, which is a coil of resistive wire heated electrically to a specified temperature. A series of observations and measurements are then made to determine the suitability of the specimen for passing the test requirements.
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