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Cone Calorimetry
The cone calorimeter is a laboratory instrument that measures combustibility and smoke generation
of materials under a wide range of conditions. For building materials that must pass the E-84 Steiner Tunnel Test, which
is expensive, the cone calorimeter is often used as a screening test and is widely recognized as a useful development tool.
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In the cone calorimeter test, described by ASTM 1354, a square sample of 100 x 100 mm (4 x 4 in.) is
exposed to the radiant flux of an electric heater. The heater has the shape of the truncated cone (hence the name of the
instrument) and is capable of providing heat fluxes in the range of 10-110 kW/m2. Tests can be conducted in the horizontal
and vertical orientation. Fire parameters obtained include rate of heat release, time of ignition, rate of mass loss,
smoke-specific extinction area, and effective heat combustion. Rate of evolution of toxic gases (e.g., CO, HCl, and HCN)
can be determined.
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Although the Kemgard® laboratory does not currently operate a cone calorimeter,
we have employed outside laboratories to conduct trials to demonstrate the performance of Kemgard® products.
Our data has demonstrated that in PVC systems Kemgard® can be used to reduce the rate of heat
release and also lower the total smoke. The cone calorimeter is also used to screen new products as they are developed.
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