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PLASTICS ARE FOUND AS SOLID SECTIONS, PELLETS, POWDERS, SHEETS, FOAMS, AND SYNTHETIC FIBERS. PLASTIC USES INCLUDE: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, INSULATION, ROOF MATERIALS, WALL PANELS, CONDUIT, PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM, TOYS, AND EVERYDAY HOME & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, INCLUDING FURNITURE, ETC.
PLASTICS AND RUBBER ARE PART OF THE FAMILY OF POLYMERS.
POLYMER - LARGE MOLECULES MADE BY COMBINING SMALLER MOLECULES BY CHEMICAL REACTION.
| THERMOSETS | THERMOPLASTICS | ELASTOMERS |
| EPOXIES | ACRYLICS | BUTYL |
| POLYESTERS | NYLONS | NATURAL RUBBER |
| POLYEURETHANE | POLYSTYRENE | NEOPRENE |
| UREA | VINYLS | NITRILE |
THERMOPLASTICS MELT AND FLOW DURING FIRE. THEREBY SPREADING FIRE.
THERMOSETS ARE HARDENED AND RETAIN THEIR SHAPE WHEN EXPOSED TO FIRE.
ELASTOMERS (RUBBERLIKE PROPERTIES) ARE NOTED FOR SMELL AND DENSE SMOKE. DOES NOT BURN RAPIDLY.
MANY PLASTICS HAVE A HIGHER IGNITION TEMPERATURE THAN WOOD; HOWEVER, PLASTICS BURN WITH A FLAME SPREAD RATE AS MUCH AS 10 TIMES THAT OF WOOD SURFACES.
CELLULOSE NITRATE
RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST HAZARDOUS PLASTIC. DECOMPOSITION OCCURS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. SUBJECT TO SPONTANEOUS IGNITION. MAY BE KEPT IN ACETONE SOLUTION TO REDUCE HAZARD.
MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION
U.S. LEADS THE WORLD IN PRODUCTION OF PLASTICS, SUPPLYING MORE THAN HALF THE TOTAL OUTPUT FROM MORE THAN 6000 COMPANIES.
Video of a burning plastic pallet.
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FPT 102 - Fire Prevention and Inspection // Instructor: Kevin M. Kolb Slide #6