Fire performances of unvulcanized rubbers and influences of horizontal flowing melts

Fire performances of typical unvulcanized rubbers are investigated and the properties of rubbers and their flowing melts are characterized. If the horizontal melt flow is allowed the burning area increases by 75%–473% and proportionally the peak mass loss rate promotes by 55%–300%. When the rubber converts to its flowing melt the viscosity and heat of complete combustion reduce, and the total crosslink density increases, which might be ascribed to the curing, the curing reversion and the decomposition mechanism. Except for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber both the T_d,5% and the decomposition activation energy decrease. The pool fire development is related with the melt viscosity, the decomposition temperature and heat release rate (HRR) in the cone calorimeter. Low viscosity contributes to large pool area. High HRR and low decomposition temperature accelerate the extension of burning area.