The Effect of Molecular Weight on the Combustion of Paraffin and Polyethylene

  • MIZUNO Kohshiroh
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University
  • YAMASHITA Takehiko
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University
  • WATANABE Yusuke
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University
  • UENO Tomonaga
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University
  • ISHIKAWA Tomoyuki
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University
  • TAKEDA Kunihiko
    Physics and Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials, Nagoya University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • パラフィンおよびポリエチレンの燃焼に及ぼす分子量の影響
  • パラフィン オヨビ ポリエチレン ノ ネンショウ ニ オヨボス ブンシリョウ ノ エイキョウ

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Abstract

The effect of the molecular weight of polymeric materials on combustion was examined by using paraffin and polyethylene (PE) as examples. From the result of the vertical firing experiments of such saturated hydrocarbons with greatly differing molecular weight we found that there is a region of molecular weights that do not support combustion because volatile gas components are hardly generated. This region ranges from 240 g/mol of the paraffin to about a 35000 g/mol, we found that PE of a Mw of about 35000 can exist as a liquid within a relatively wide temperature range from the melting point of 130°C to 400°C, which is the temperature where decomposition begins: it burns while melting. The viscosity of PE has a low temperature dependence and a high molecular weight dependence, so when the Mw exceeds 50000 the surface temperature, reaches 530°C, and PE thermally degradates violently and burns as it melts. These results suggest that there is a possibility that by controlling the molecular weight, the combustibility can also be controlled.<br>

Journal

  • KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU

    KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU 65 (2), 171-177, 2008

    The Society of Polymer Science, Japan

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