Fire impact on forest soils evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

The assessment of physico-chemical properties in forest soils affected by fires was evaluated using near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric methods. In order to describe the soil properties, measurements were taken of the total organic carbon on solid phase, the total nitrogen content, the organic carbon and the specific absorbences at 254 and 280 nm of humic substances, organic carbon in humic and fulvic acids, concentrations of NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and phosphorus in addition to NIR spectra. Then, a fire recurrence index was defined and calculated according to the different fires extents affecting soils. This calculation includes the occurrence of fires as well as the time elapsed since the last fire. This study shows that NIR spectroscopy could be considered as a tool for soil monitoring, particularly for the quantitative prediction of the total organic carbon, total nitrogen content, organic carbon in humic substances, concentrations of phosphorus, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and NH₄⁺ and humic substances UVSA₂₅₄. Further validation in this field is necessary however, to try and make successful predictions of K⁺, organic carbon in humic and fulvic acids and the humic substances UVSA₂₈₀. Moreover, NIR coupled with PLS can also be useful to predict the fire recurrence index in order to determine the spatial variability. Also this method can be used to map more or less burned areas and possibly to apply adequate rehabilitation techniques, like soil litter reconstitution with organic enrichments (industrial composts) or reforestation. Finally, the proposed recurrence index can be considered representative of the state of the soils.     

Preparation and characterisation of a novel fire retardant PET/α-zirconium phosphate nanocomposite

The preparation of a novel fire retardant nanocomposite of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) using nanoscopic α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP), by in situ polymerisation was investigated. The novel fire retarded PET nanocomposite, PET-co-DDP/α-ZrP, was synthesized by the direct condensation of terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, 9,10-dihydro-10[2,3-di(hydroxycarbonyl)propyl]-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DDP) and nano α-ZrP. The morphology, thermal stability and burning behaviour of the nanocomposite with 1 wt% α-ZrP loading was investigated. The extent of dispersion of the nanofillers was quantified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Significant improvements in fire retardant performance were observed for the nanocomposite from limiting oxygen index (increased from 21.2 to 32.6), UL-94 (achieving V-0), and cone calorimetry (reducing both the heat release rate and the total heat released, without reducing the time to ignition).     

基于近红外光谱技术的钢结构防火涂料品牌鉴别方法研究

为了实现钢结构防火涂料在流通使用领域中不同品牌的现场快速鉴别, 提出了一种用近红外光谱技术快速鉴别钢结构防火涂料品牌的方法。运用光栅扫描型近红外光谱仪器, 通过近红外漫反射光谱获取不同品牌钢结构防火涂料的光谱曲线, 并对光谱数据进行标准正态变量变换(standard normal variate transformation, SNV)、Norris二阶求导等优化处理。利用主成分分析法(principal component analysis, PCA)对钢结构防火涂料品牌进行聚类分析, 前五个主成分的累积方差贡献率已达到99.791%, 以PC1, PC2和PC3×10的得分值对所有建模样品在三维空间作图, 对不同品牌的钢结构防火涂料具有很好的聚类作用。利用5个品牌的各25个样品建立校正模型, 用余下5个品牌的各5个样品, 共计25个样品进行外部验证, 通过未知样品光谱的主成分得分值计算其与校正模型中每个品牌的马氏距离值, 实现未知样品的品牌鉴别。建立的定性分析模型对未知样品的外部验证正确率达到100%。说明该分析方法能够快速准确的鉴别钢结构防火涂料品牌, 并为市场规范提供技术参考。     

Reaction to fire of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate blends

In the present paper, we study the effect of both morphology and compatibilization on the reaction to fire of blends of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETr) with recycled polycarbonate (PCr). It is shown that while the flame retardancy of blends containing less than 50% w/w of PCr increases almost linearly with PCr content, blends containing more than 50% w/w of PCr react to fire like pure PCr. This change of reaction to fire correlates with the formation of a continuous PCr phase in the blend.The compatibilization of the blend by a trans-esterification reaction leading to the formation of copolymers at the interface decreases the overall fire performances due to PETr chain breaking as a side effect which results in a strong decrease of blend viscosity and of the temperature at which mass loss begins.     

Intumescent mineral fire retardant systems in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer: Effect of silica particles on char cohesion

Silica particles of different physical properties (particle size, morphology and specific surface area) were introduced into an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer filled with an intumescent mineral fire retardant system containing magnesium hydroxide and organo-modified montmorillonites. The effect of silica particles on the cohesion and strength of the foamed combustion residue was studied by micro-indentation, concurrently with the characterization of material's fire behavior.Silica particles seem to act as defects that generate cracks, decreasing the strength of the residue. This generation of cracks is connected to a lower cohesion of the residue, especially for silica particles of high specific surface area. In parallel, the presence of silica of high specific surface area, despite tending to decrease Time To Ignition, also improves self-extinguishing ability, thanks to a better thermal stability at higher temperatures, and reduces the maximum Heat Release Rate in cone calorimeter tests.     

火试金重量法与AAS湿法结合测定砂金矿中金的含量

砂金矿中二氧化硅和金的含量较高,本文用传统的火试金重量法与AAS湿法相结合来测定砂金矿中的金含量,用以得到较为精确的结果。本文用科学的配料方法,调节好熔渣的硅酸度,得到品质更好的熔渣与铅扣。再通过二次补正收集分散在熔渣中的金,之后进行三次补正收集灰皿中残留的金含量,然后用原子吸收光谱—AAS湿法测定三次补正得到的金银合粒与分金液中金的含量,从而得到更精确的结果。此方法操作简便、适用性广、精密度与准确度较高。通过加标测试此方法金的回收率在99.2%～100.3% 之间,金的相对标准偏差(RSD)在0.24%～0.6%之间。     

Opposed-flow flame spread in microgravity-theoretical prediction of spread rate and flammability map

The spread rate formulas of de Ris in the thermal regime of opposed-flow flame spread are inarguably the most well-known formulas in the flame spread literature. Similar easy-to-use formulas are lacking in all other regimes of flame spread. This paper presents a simplified analysis leading to the development of closed-form expressions for spread rate for both thin and thick fuels in the microgravity regime of opposed-flow flame spread. The resulting formulas, expressed in terms of the thermal limit of spread rate and a radiation number that can be evaluated from the known parameters of the problem, are shown to reproduce the experimentally and numerically observed trends quite well at both limits of fuel thickness. These formulas are utilized to develop quantitative criterion to delineate thin and thick fuels in the microgravity and thermal regimes. The transition between the microgravity and thermal regimes is also explored. The flammability maps, derived from the spread rate expressions, are the first of their kind, establishing fuel thickness as one of the critical parameters.     

Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of highly brominated fire retardant compounds

We report the development of a capillary gas chromatographic method, superior to existing packed column methods, for the analysis of highly brominated additive fire-retardants, including decabromodiphenyl ether (1) and decabromodiphenoxyethane (II). Neither compound has been analyzed previously by capillary GC, and there are no published methods for (II). For (I), the new method is 5–10 times faster than an analogous packed column method, and it has 100 times lower detection limits and twice the precision of a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method. For (II), the capillary method is 30–50% faster than an unpublished liquid chromatographic method. The greater efficiency of the capillary method makes possible the complete resolution (R ≥ 1.25) of structurally very similar compounds (e.g. compound (II) and its Br₉Cl₁ and Br₈Cl₂ analogues). With the new method, commercial preparations of (I) and (II) can be rapidly analyzed, and samples from combustion and pyrolysis experiments can be evaluated for compositional changes.     

火灾致因数据的模糊聚类分析

利用一种成熟的模糊聚类分析方法，对火灾危险源的前期数据进行分析和处理。为火灾危险源灾变的知识表征模型提供数据准备。得到火灾危险源识别的重要信息。