• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.64
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• pp.72-76
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• 2006

Polymer/clay nanocomposites have generated considerable interests in the past decade because adding just tiny amount of clay to the polymer matrix could produce a dramatic enhancement in physical, thermal and mechanical properties. Smectite clays, such as montmorillonite (MMT), are of great industrial value because of their high aspect ratio, plate morphology, intercalative capacity, natural abundance and low cost. In this study, PE/MMT nanocomposites were directly prepared by melt intercalating PE and the modified clay. The nanostructure was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their flame retardant properties were measured and discussed by limiting oxygen index (LOI), char yield and smoke mass concentration. And their thermal stabilities were measured by differential thermogravimetric (DTG) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PE/MMT nanocomposites proved more effective the conventional composites in reinforcement. Two functions in the thermal stability of the PE/MMT nanocomposite, one is the barrier effect to improve the thermal stability, and another is catalysis, leading to a decrease of the thermal stability. The flammability was greatly decreased due to the formation of the clay-enriched protective char during the combustion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.8-14
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• 2023

Lithium ions can induce the thermal runaway phenomenon and lead to reignition due to electrical, mechanical, and environmental factors such as high temperature, smoke generation, explosions, or flames, which is extremely likely to create safety concerns. Therefore, one of the ways to improve the flame retardancy of the electrolyte is to use a flame-retardant additive. Comparing the associated characteristic value of existing substances with the required experimental value, it was found that these values were either considerably different or were not documented. It is vital to know a substance's combustion characteristic values, flash point, explosion limit, and autoignition temperature (AIT) as well as its combustion characteristics before using it. In this research, the flash point and AIT of materials were measured by mixing a highly volatile and flammable substance, diethyl carbonate (DEC), with flame-retardant dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). The flash point of DEC, which is a pure substance, was 29℃, and that for DMMP was 65℃. Further, the lower explosion limit calculated using the measured flash point of DEC was 1.79 Vol.%, while that for DMMP was 0.79 Vol.%. The AIT was 410℃ and 390℃ for DEC and DMMP, respectively. In particular, since the AIT of DMMP has not been discussed in any previous study, it is necessary to ensure safety through experimental values. In this study, the experimental and regression analysis revealed that the average absolute deviation (ADD) for the flash point of the DEC+DMMP DEC+DMMP system is 0.58 sec and that the flash point tends to increase according to changes in the composition employed. It also revealed that the AAD for the AIT of the mixture was 3.17 sec and that the AIT tended to decrease and then increase based on changes in the composition.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

In this study, the burning behaviours of five different kinds of carpet samples covered with nylon, PP (polypropylene), PTT (poly(trimethylene terephthalate)), wool fabric and NW (nylon and wool) were evaluated by using the cone calorimeter having a radiant flux of 50kW/$m^2$. And the combustion gas toxicity was evaluated according to KS F 2271 test method. As a result of the cone calorimeter test (KS F ISO 5660-1), nylon carpet samples were ignited most easily. In ignition ability or initial flammability, NW carpet samples showed the highest value. In heat release rate (HRR), fire intensity, PP carpet samples were larger than any other samples. Nylon carpet samples were the highest smoke production rate, while N/W carpet samples the lowest. The following were in mass loss rates: NW > wool > nylon > PP > PTT. CO (carbon monoxide) was one of the most toxic gases released from the combustion. PTT carpet samples gave rise to the highest CO concentration, while NW carpet samples the lowest. In addition, PP carpet samples caused the highest $CO_2$ (carbon dioxide) concentration, while NW carpet samples the lowest. Toxicity of the gas produced from carpet samples was determined by the mouse stop motion, and it resulted in the fact that the combustion gas of PTT carpet samples was more toxic than that of any other samples.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.92-94
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• 2003

The autotransformer currently used on the electric railway system is made of class A insulation material and uses the paper insulation method. As a power converter supplying power to the trolley wire, the autotransformer is one of critical equipment in the railway system. In the autotransformer, load irregularly changes and overload often occurs. These cause overheating of the autotransformer and facilitate deterioration of the autotransformer resulting in burnout accidents due to insulation breakdown. Also, the current autotransformer has poor insolation and short-circuit strength which often badly affect the service life of the transformer, and needs to improve its quality urgently. To overcome one of existing shortcomings of the mold transformer, manufacturers use epoxy resins that have superior flame retardancy to get rid of fro and explosion possibilities during accidents. Currently, new mold transformers are used in indoor distribution facilities with fire-fighting equipments. Coils molded in epoxy resins do not have their insulation performance compromised by humidity, dust, etc enabling easy inspection and maintenance. Comparing to the oil immersed transformer, the mold transformer does not have any concern about environmental pollutions by oil leak or replacement Therefore, to reduce breakdowns and improve reliability of the autotransformer, it is necessary to develop a new mold autotransformer with low loss suitable for our environment to suppress breakdowns of the autotransformer and improve the reliability. This study is about development of a low-loss mold autotransformer necessitated by reasons mentioned earlier.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1678-1686
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• 2021

In this study, we prepared phosphorous flame-retarding coating solutions by mixing triphosphate (3 phosphonate), phytic acid (6 phosphonate), or ammonium polyphosphate (10 phosphonate) with boric acid as a crosslinking agent and acryl resin binder. Prepared phosphorous flame-retarding coating solutions were coated onto non-woven fabrics, respectively, to obtain high flame-retarding effects. These prepared flame-retardant non-woven fabrics were evaluated using smoke density standard test (ASTM E662), limit oxygen index standard test (ISO E622), and vertical burning standard test (UL 94). Their flame-retarding effects were affected by the number of phosphonate groups. Regardless of natural or synthetic binder resins, their effects showed the following order: ammonium polyphosphate > phytic acid > triphosphate. Natural hydrocarbon compounds were also examined to determine the possible retardancy of binder resins. Results showed that natural hydrocarbon binder resins could be used for preparing fire-retardant nonwoven fabrics.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2022

Mineral electrical insulating oil, which is widely used in transformers, exhibits excellent cooling performance and transformer efficiency. However, given that it is composed of petroleum-based components, it is weak in terms of biodegradability. This causes environmental problems in case of leakage and a low flash point, which is a factor that would cause great damage in the event of a fire in a substation. In this context, the use of eco-friendly electric insulating oil composed of bio-based vegetable oil and synthetic ester, which has excellent biodegradability and flame retardancy performance, has recently been expanded to the field of electric power, and various research and development (R&D) studies are in progress. According to different research results, vegetable oil and synthetic ester manufacturing technology, thermal stability, oxidation stability, property change, and quality control, which are characteristics of eco-friendly electrical insulating oils, are major factors affecting the maintenance of insulating oil properties. In addition, power companies have established and operated quality control standards according to the use of eco-friendly electrical insulating oil as they expand the exploitatoin of renewable energy in electricity production. In particular, deterioration and oxidation characteristics were jointly identified in R&D as an important influencing factor according to the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids present in vegetable oils and synthetic esters in power transformer applications.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2018

Recently, the importance of flame retardation treatment technology has been emphasized due to the increase in urban fire accidents and fire damage incidents caused by building exterior materials. Particularly, in the utilization of wood-based building materials, the flame retarding treatment technology is more importantly evaluated. An Intumescent system is one of the non-halogen flame retardant treatment technologies and is a system that realizes flame retardancy through foaming and carbonization layer formation. To apply the Intumescent system, composite material was prepared by using Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) as a matrix. To enhance the flame retardant properties of the Intumescent system, a nano-clay was applied together. Composite materials with Intumescent system and nano - clay technology were processed into sheet - like test specimens, and then a new structure of cross laminated timber with improved flame retardant properties was fabricated. In the evaluation of combustion characteristics of composite materials using Intumescent system, it was confirmed that the maximum heat emission was reduced efficiently. Depending on the structure attached to the surface, the CLT had two stages of combustion. Also, it was confirmed that the maximum calorific value decreased significantly during the deep burning process. These characteristics are expected to have a delayed combustion diffusion effect in the combustion process of CLT. In order to improve the performance, the flame retardation treatment technique for the surface veneer and the optimization technique of the application of the composite material are required. It is expected that it will be possible to develop a CLT structure with improved fire characteristics.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2020

Flame retardant(FR) clothes prohibit additional fire diffusion and make the personnel do their tasks without a hitch in a flammable environment. The existing FR clothes, however, are heavy and give high thermal fatigue. Therefore, it is strongly demanded to develop a light, convenient, and eco-friendly clothes. Recently, many works have been reported to make FR fabrics with phosphorus compounds, but their performance could not satisfy the specified criteria in appraisal standards of domestic and American FR clothes or combat uniforms. In this paper, two kinds of phosphorus compounds were applied to cotton fabric. Graphene oxide functionalized with a phosphorus-rich deep eutectic solvent and ammonium polyphosphate were coated on cotton fabric by eco-friendly padding procedure. The coated fabrics were analyzed with thermogravimetric analysis, vertical flame resistance test(ASTM D6413), cone calorimeter test(ISO 5660-1), and method of test for limited flame spread(ISO 15025). It was revealed that the as-made cotton with those two materials simultaneously had better flame resistance than the cottons with each one. Furthermore, an additional coating for hydrophobicity on the FR cotton was tried for better washing fastness.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2012

The fire retardant bamboo charcoal (BC) boards were manufactured for interior building materials in this study, The BC boards were manufactured by mixing and pressing of the bamboo charcoal, expanded vermiculite, and inorganic binder. The combustion behaviors of the BC boards were investigated using a cone calorimeter at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/$m^2$. Three building materials (plywood, BC board of Japan, and gypsum board) were used to observe the burning behaviors of weight loss, total heat release rate, and maximum heat release rate. Surface test and toxicity evaluation of the BC board were also conducted. The weight loss of the BC board (12.0%) was lower than the nonflammable gypsum board (15.6%) after burning of 10 min. Total heat release of the BC was 3 MJ/$m^2$ (KS standard 8 MJ/$m^2$) and total heat release rate of the BC was 20 kW/$m^2$ (KS standard 200 kW/$m^2$). Therefore, the BC boards were adjustable for the third-grade flame retardant building materials. External appearance change and mouse toxicity were not found in the BC boards after the combustion test.