Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative thermal decomposition characteristics and fire behaviors of commercial cables

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The decomposition and fire behaviors of two commonly used cables were studied by a calorimeter. The effects of the cable type, the incident heat flux, and the thermal aging on the fire characteristics were specially analyzed. Two cables showed almost the same ignition property considering the same sheath material, and the thermally thick model for both cables was identified. The changes in mass and heat release between two cables presented a significant difference. This was ascribed to the different compositions and the structures of the cables. The theoretical derivation and experimental data fitting indicated that two cables gave a different fire risk. The fire hazard was greatly promoted under higher incident heat flux because more combustible compositions decomposed contributed to heat release. The ignition time of two cables first changed slowly with the thermal aging degree and then increased sharply, with a critical aging time of 30 days. The changing trends of mass and heat release with the thermal aging degree between two cables were significantly different, which was attributed to the different compositions of cable insulation, resulting in the different thermal aging mechanisms. This work may provide an in-depth understanding of fire behaviors of commercial cables.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen R, Lu S, Zhang Y, Lo S. Pyrolysis study of waste cable hose with thermogravimetry/Fourier transform infrared/mass spectrometry analysis. Energ Convers Manag. 2017;153:83–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. He H, Zhang Q, Tu R, Zhao L, Liu J, Zhang Y. Molten thermoplastic dripping behavior induced by flame spread over wire insulation under overload currents. J Hazard Mater. 2016;320:628–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Courty L, Garo JP. External heating of electrical cables and auto-ignition investigation. J Hazard Mater. 2017;321:528–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.09.042.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Meinier R, Sonnier R, Zavaleta P, Suard S, Ferry L. Fire behavior of halogen-free flame retardant electrical cables with the cone calorimeter. J Hazard Mater. 2018;342:306–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang C, Liu H, Zhang J, Yang S, Zhang Z, Zhao W. Thermal degradation of flame-retarded high-voltage cable sheath and insulation via TG-FTIR. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis. 2018;134:167–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Xie Q, Zhang H, Tong L. Experimental study on the fire protection properties of PVC sheath for old and new cables. J Hazard Mater. 2010;179(1–3):373–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Huang X, Nakamura Y. A review of fundamental combustion phenomena in wire fires. Fire Technol. 2019;2019:1–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang Z, Wei R, Wang X, He J, Wang J. Pyrolysis and combustion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheath for new and aged cables via thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) and calorimeter. Materials. 2018;11(10):1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mo S-J, Zhang J, Liang D, Chen H-Y. Study on pyrolysis characteristics of cross-linked polyethylene material cable. Proc Eng. 2013;52:588–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hanley TL, Burford RP, Fleming RJ, Barber KW. A general review of polymeric insulation for use in HVDC cables. IEEE Electr Insul Mag. 2003;19(1):13–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Beneš M, Milanov N, Matuschek G, Kettrup A, Plaček V, Balek V. Thermal degradation of PVC cable insulation studied by simultaneous TG-FTIR and TG–EGA methods. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2004;78(2):621–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Henrist C, Rulmont A, Cloots R, Gilbert B, Bernard A, Beyer G. Toward the understanding of the thermal degradation of commercially available fire-resistant cable. Mater Lett. 2000;46(2–3):160–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Seguchi T, Tamura K, Ohshima T, Shimada A, Kudoh H. Degradation mechanisms of cable insulation materials during radiation–thermal ageing in radiation environment. Radiat Phys Chem. 2011;80(2):268–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Matala A, Hostikka S. Pyrolysis modelling of PVC cable materials. Fire Saf Sci. 2011;10:917–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tewarson A, Khan MM. A new standard test method for the quantification of fire propagation behavior of electrical cables using factory mutual research corporation’s small-scale flammability apparatus. Fire Technol. 1992;28(3):215–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hirschler MM. Comparison of large-and small-scale heat release tests with electrical cables. Fire Mater. 1994;18(2):61–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Barnes MA, Briggs PJ, Hirschler MM, Matheson AF, O’Neill TJ. A comparative study of the fire performance of halogenated and non-halogenated materials for cable applications. Part II tests on cable. Fire Mater. 1996;20(1):17–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Grayson S, Van Hees P, Green AM, Breulet H, Vercellotti U. Assessing the fire performance of electric cables (FIPEC). Fire Mater. 2001;25(2):49–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Quintiere J, Harkleroad M, Walton D. Measurement of material flame spread properties. Combust Sci Technol. 1983;32(1–4):67–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hirschler MM. Survey of fire testing of electrical cables. Fire Mater. 1992;16(3):107–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Fernandez-Pello A, Hasegawa H, Staggs K, Lipska-Quinn A, Alvares N. A study of the fire performance of electrical cables. Fire Saf Sci. 1991;3:237–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Zavaleta P, Audouin L. Cable tray fire tests in a confined and mechanically ventilated facility. Fire Mater. 2018;42(1):28–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. McGrattan KB, Lock AJ, Marsh ND, Nyden MR. Cable heat release, ignition, and spread in tray installations during fire (CHRISTIFIRE): phase 1-horizontal trays 2012.

  24. McGrattan KB, Bareham SD. Cable heat release, ignition, and spread in tray installations during fire (CHRISTIFIRE) phase 2: vertical shafts and corridors 2013.

  25. Huang X, Zhu H, Peng L, Zheng Z, Zeng W, Bi K, et al. Burning behavior of cable tray located on a wall with different cable arrangements. Fire Mater. 2019;43(1):64–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tao H, Zhang X, Guo Z, Zeng W, Huang X, Zheng Z, et al. Combustion characteristics and heat release rate of vertical cable fire for sustainable energy system in an analogue underground compartment. Sustain Cities Soc. 2019;45:406–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.12.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Emanuelsson V, Simonson M, Gevert T. The effect of accelerated ageing of building wires. Fire Mater. 2007;31(5):311–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.944.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang Z, Wang J. An experimental study on the fire characteristics of new and aged building wires using a cone calorimeter. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2019;135(6):3115–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ding Y, Ezekoye OA, Zhang J, Wang C, Lu S. The effect of chemical reaction kinetic parameters on the bench-scale pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Fuel. 2018;232:147–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.05.140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Schartel B, Hull TR. Development of fire-retarded materials—interpretation of cone calorimeter data. Fire Mater. 2007;31(5):327–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rhodes BT, Quintiere JG. Burning rate and flame heat flux for PMMA in a cone calorimeter. Fire Saf J. 1996;26(3):221–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Janssens M. Piloted ignition of wood: a review. Fire Mater. 1991;15(4):151–67.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Spearpoint MJ, Quintiere JG. Predicting the piloted ignition of wood in the cone calorimeter using an integral model—effect of species, grain orientation and heat flux. Fire Saf J. 2001;36(4):391–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Khan MM, Bill RG, Alpert RL. Screening of plenum cables using a small-scale fire test protocol. Fire Mater. 2006;30(1):65–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Babrauskas V, Grayson S. Heat release in fires. Berlin: Taylor & Francis; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Grayson SJ. Fire performance of electric cables-new test methods and measurement techniques. Final Report on the European Commission SMT Programme Sponsored Research Project SMT4-CT96-2059; 2000, p. 410.

  37. Brebu M, Vasile C, Antonie SR, Chiriac M, Precup M, Yang J, et al. Study of the natural ageing of PVC insulation for electrical cables. Polym Degrad Stabil. 2000;67(2):209–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Quennehen P, Royaud I, Seytre G, Gain O, Rain R, Espilit T, et al. Determination of the aging mechanism of single core cables with PVC insulation. Polym Degrad Stabil. 2015;119:96–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.05.008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Jakubowicz I, Yarahmadi N, Gevert T. Effects of accelerated and natural ageing on plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Polym Degrad Stabil. 1999;66(3):415–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-3910(99)00094-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Sibulkin M, Kim JVC Jr. The dependence of flame propagation on surface heat transfer I. Downward burning. Combust Sci Technol. 1977;14(1–3):43–56.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Pagacz J, Chrzanowski M, Krucinska I, Pielichowski K. Thermal aging and accelerated weathering of PVC/MMT nanocomposites: structural and morphological studies. J Appl Polym Sci. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.42090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Oluwoye I, Altarawneh M, Gore J, Dlugogorski BZ. Oxidation of crystalline polyethylene. Combust Flame. 2015;162(10):3681–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Wang Z, Wei R, Ning X, Xie T, Wang J. Thermal degradation properties of LDPE insulation for new and aged fine wires. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2019;137(2):461–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7957-5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFC0809500). The authors gratefully acknowledge this support. Zhi Wang thanks for the support from China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Wang & Jian Wang

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland

    Zhi Wang

Authors
  1. Zhi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jian Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian Wang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Z., Wang, J. Comparative thermal decomposition characteristics and fire behaviors of commercial cables. J Therm Anal Calorim 144, 1209–1218 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10051-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10051-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation