Using synchronous thermal analysis to study characteristic features of a developing fire

Introduction. The purpose of the work is to estimate the temperature of impact on the material under study using the results of synchronous thermal analysis. This task is solved to achieve the pre-set purposes: studying the process of the thermal-oxidative destruction of the material under study, developing thermal impact assessment criteria, and deriving equations to determine the temperature of impact. Materials and methods. Specimens of ROTBAND gypsum finishing putty, frequently used for the interior decoration of walls of buildings and premises, have been studied. Before testing, putty samples were subjected to the preliminary thermal impact of 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 °С for 30 min. The tests were carried out using the method of synchronous thermal analysis (Netzsch STА 449 F5 Jupiter) in corundum crucibles at a heating rate of 20 °С/min and with an air flow rate of 75 ml/min. Research results and discussion. Mass loss at a temperature of 200 °C and ash residue at a temperature of 900 °C can be expediently used as the criteria for assessing the temperature of impact on the gypsum putty using thermal analysis methods. Equations are obtained to calculate the temperature of impact on the gypsum putty composition according to the thermos-analytical characteristics of putty specimens. Conclusions. The study demonstrates that synchronous thermal analysis can be applied to determine the temperature of impact on the material under study, which is vital for the analysis of a developing indoor fire.