Fire characteristics of cored composite materials for marine use

This paper presents results from Cone Calorimeter testing of two types of cored composite materials used in shipbuilding: a GRP/Balsa-cored sandwich and a GRP/PVC foam-cored sandwich. The observed phenomena of delamination, melting and charring of the core materials, and edge effects are discussed in the context of how they affect test results. The “standard” ignition data analysis method specified in ASTM E 1321 and Janssens’ “improved” method of analysis were both used to derive effective material ignition properties such as ignition temperature and kρc. The findings of the study indicate that Janssens’ method is well suited for analyzing the ignition data of cored composite materials. Derived material properties are used as input to Quintiere’s fire growth model in order to evaluate their influence on time to flashover predictions in the ISO 9705 Room–Corner test scenario.