FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES FORMATIONAT HEATING THERMO- AND FIRE-RESISTANT COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Purpose. The article is devoted to the study of fire and explosion hazardous compounds formation at heating thermo- and fire-resistant composite materials. The background of this work was the research findings of gas release from polymer and composite materials at their heating in a hermetically sealed volume, thanks to which, it was found that the behavior of two thermo- and fire- resistant composite materials, ВК-58К and ‘Spherolite’, did not correspond to the expected value. Despite the preliminary heat treatment, these materials, when being heated in a vacuum, release hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide (II) into the environment (in total up tocm3 per 1 g of material). The purpose of the research work was to study the formation mechanism of fire and explosion hazardous gases at heating these composites and to find ways of reducing the volume of these gases.Methods. The studies were carried out using methods of thermoanalysis and gas chromatography. The thermal analysis method was implemented on the SETARAM TGA 92-24 thermal analyzer, and gas chromatography analysis method was implemented on the “Tswet-800” chromatograph.Findings. Н2, CO and СН4 formation mechanism is proposed; it consists of interaction of water andcarbon, contained in one form or another in the studied materials. The method of reducing gas release from ВК- 58К material by removing water from the pores of the material is suggested. This method does not lead to a gas release decrease from “Spherolite”, apparently due to the fact that forms of water and carbon reaction are different from those contained in ВК-58К.Research application field. The findings of the work show that fire-proof materials according to GOST standard 12.1.044-89 under certain circumstances may become a potential source of fire hazard. The suggested ways of reducing gas release will be used for improving items production technology from thermo- and fire- resistant composite materials. Conclusions. It is planned to continue the research work on the mechanisms of gas phase formation at heating the perspective heat insulation material ‘Spherolite’. It is expected that the end result of the research work will be minimizing the risk of components formation that pose a potential fire threat.