I have an interesting problem that I am seeking some advice on. Any body know anything about cone calorimetry? UL uses cone calorimetry to measure heat release rates (HRR) which they relate to flammability and fire loads - in particular they focus on peak heat release rates (pHRR) as a criteria. This is in regards to plastic pallets and the UL 2335 testing protocol.

My problem is that we sell a HMW HDPE that is formed into pallets and some lots pass and some lots don't and I can't tell any difference between them using my normal testing, including OIT, thermal stability and other DSC related tests (don't have a TGA at the moment).

The pallet as fully formulated contains a flame retardant (don't know which one nor how much as we're prohibited for analyzing for it by contract with the customer), HDPE, carbon black and probably 1 or 2 other things.

Info on cone calorimetry can be found by a simple Google search for cone calorimeter. Some leading references are:

http://www.doctorfire.com/cone

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TXS-4DS9712-4...

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/3195/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

and the test is described in ASTM E 1354, "Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

Any help you can give me including a referral to someone who knows something about cone calorimetry would be useful.

Thanks for your help.

Mike Killough
mike.killough@ineos.com