J.H. Dyer

Minimum concentrations of methyl bromide and nitrogen that will ensure the extinguishment of the most stable liquid surface diffusion flame burning behind a flame holder have been determined.

J.H. Dyer

The extinction of a liquid surface diffusion flame of kerosene burning air has been studied using sprays of bromochlorodifluoromethane produced by swirl-type nozzles.

L.C. Virr

The aviation accidents, involving fire, there is evidence that many of the fatalities arise as a result of people being overcome by smoke and toxic fumes rather than by the direct fire threat. Incapacitation disorientation has prevented them from evacuating the aircraft before conditions become unsurvivable.

Leonard Y. Cooper

A general description of the interaction of sprinklers and compartment fire generated smoke layers is presented. Various possible aspects of the interaction phenomena (upper-layer smoke entrainment into the sprinkler spray, momentum and mass exchange between droplets and entrained gas.

Richard H. Fish

Research on the chemistry of ablation for protection of spacecraft during atmospheric entry has led to the development of a new class of fire-retardant materials; namely, lightweight plastic foams. The foams have been developed principally to protect aircraft structures and externally mounted fuel tanks from onboard fires in flight.

Fire-retardant foams have been made from urethane, isocyanurate, and polybenzimidazole. The density of the foams ranges from 2 to 30 lb/ft. Addition of randomly placed quartz fibers to the urethane and isocyanurate foams increases their density and improves the stability of the char formed on heating. For example, by adding fibers in a 10 percent concentration, the density of the urethane foam is tripled and its fire-protection, the density of the urethane foam is tripled and its fire protection capability is increased five-fold. The fire-protective capability of the isocynurate foam system is twice that of the urethane foam and four times that of commercial isocyanurate fire-retardant foam.

This paper describes the various fire-retardant materials and illustrates their performance when exposed to a fuel fire. Performance is compared wherever possible with presently available commercial developments. Although the materials were developed primarily for aircraft use, a discussion is given of other possible areas of appreciation.