Diana P. Brauer

Ignitability of Furniture Upholstery Fabrics: Effect of Fiber Composition, Fabric Construction, and Backcoating

Ignitability tests were performed on 94 samples of furniture upholstery fabrics provided by the California Bureau of Home Furnishings. Time to ignition appeared to be a function of fabric weight, fabric con struction, and fabric weave as much as of the chemical composition of the fiber. Backcoating seemed to have an effect with certair. fiber/fabric com binations.

Effect of Backcoating On Toxicity of Pyrolysis Gases From Furniture Upholstery Fabrics

Available data on toxicity of pyrolysis gases from furniture upholstery fabrics were studied to determine the effect of backcoating. The data were obtained using the toxicity screening test method developed at the University of San Francisco. For 100% rayon fabrics, time to death appeared to increase when backcoating content increased above 25 per cent. For 100% nylon fabrics, time to death appeared to be longest when backcoating content was about 30 per cent.

Toxicity of Gases Generated From Smoldering Cellulose Insulation

An apparatus and procedure are described for evaluating the toxicity of the gases evolved from the smoldering combustion of cellulose insulation. The method combines initiation of smoldering combustion in cellulose insulation by a lighted cigarette and exposure of laboratory animals to the gases evolved. The toxicity of the gases evolved appears to be a function of the amount of cellulose insuiption consumed by smoldering. Non-smoldering cellulose insulation does not appear to present any toxic hazard under these particular test conditions.

Low-Cost Fire Response Tests for Cellulose Insulation

The widespread use of cellulose insulation and the large number of small manufacturers makes low-cost fire response tests desirable for evaluating the fire safety aspects of this material. Various laboratory tests are discussed and some test data obtained at the University of San Francisco are presented.

Toxicity of Pyrolysis Gases From Thermal Insulation Materials

Toxicity test data obtained at the University of San Francis co on the pyrolysis gases from various thermal insulation materials are presented.

Treated Viscose Fibers: Effect of Sandoflam 5060 on Pyrolysis Gas Toxicity

Samples of viscose fibers were treated with Sandoflam 5060 flame retardant, which was added to the spinning dope before the spinning operation. The addition of Sandoflam 5060 to this viscose material appeared to have no significant effect on pyrolysis gas toxicity under these particular test conditions.

Ignitability By Radiant Heat of Furniture Upholstery Fabrics

Ignitability test data on 94 samples of furniture upholstery fabrics are presented. Time to ignition appeared to be a function of fabric weight, fabric construction, and fabric weave as much as of the chemical composition of the fiber. The use of a polyurethane flexible foam substrate in the test method to simu late actual use conditions may lead to more realistic evaluation of fabric/cushion combinations.

Backcoating, Char Yield, and Toxicity of Pyrolysis Gases From Fabrics

Various samples of fabrics were evaluated for tox icity of pyrolysis gases, using the USF toxicity screening test method, and the data were related to backcoating content and char yield. The samples consisted of 18 furniture upholstery fabrics, 10 aircraft fabrics, and 6 apparel fabrics.

Ignitability of Fabrics and Fabric/Cushion Systems

The ignition characteristics of furniture upholstery fabrics appear to be influenced by fabric variables, test condi tions, and substrate as much as by the chemical composition of the fiber.

Ignition testing of fabrics and fabric/cushion systems

The ignition behavior of furniture upholstery fabrics appears to be influenced by fabric variables (weight, weave, construction, and backcoating), test conditions, and substrate as much as by the chemical composition of the fiber.