Kwok W. Lem

Flammability Evaluation of Spectra(r) Composites Under Exposure to a Turbo-Torch Flame

Abstract Because of an outstanding capability of absorbing mechanical energy, Spectra® fibers are frequently used in damage tolerant composite materials to protect equipment, blast proof aircraft luggage containers, armor, apparatus and/or people against blast and debris of explosion or projectiles. Since Spectra(r) fiber is made of polyethylene which is one of the most thermally stable polymers in the absence of oxygen, it is possible to design composite structures that are suitable for use in applications where prolonged exposure to flame is anticipated. In this paper, we report the findings obtained in a recent study on the development of the flame barrier materials for constructing the turbo-torch flame resistant Spectra(r) composites. A heat transfer analysis was conducted to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics of the flame resistance. It is shown that the general trend in flame resistance behavior of the composite can be predicted from the component material properties and composite const...