Effects of liquid accelerant on the pyrolysis behaviors and kinetics of PMMA, a noncharring polymer

Abstract

Thermal decomposition of solid combustibles infiltrated with combustible liquids (liquid accelerants) is one typical fire behavior in arsons. In the present study, thermogravimetric and kinetic analyses are used to investigate the pyrolysis of one typical noncharring polymer namely polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) infiltrated with different contents of one representative liquid accelerant namely kerosene. Results indicate that the thermal decomposition process of pure PMMA and PMMA infiltrated with kerosene show a one-stage and a three-stage process, respectively. Furthermore, the first and third stages for PMMA infiltrated with kerosene can be both regarded as one-step reaction.With the increase of kerosene content, the conversion rate ranges of the first and third stages for PMMA infiltrated with kerosene are shortened. The peak