Microscale Combustion Calorimetry method according to ASTM D7309
Microscale Combustion Calorimetry according to ASTM D7309 is a method for measuring heat release from milligram-scale samples of solid materials under controlled heating. Different flammability parameters, such as heat release capacity and fire growth capacity are derived from the measurement.
Service details
- Service
- Microscale Combustion Calorimetry method to determine flammability characteristics of solid materials using ASTM D7309
- Metrology Area
- Combustion
- Delivery level
- Non-accredited
- Standards
ASTM D7309: Standard Test Method for Determining Flammability Characteristics of Plastics and Other Solid Materials Using Microscale Combustion Calorimetry
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- Price on tender
Purpose of Microscale Combustion Calorimetry
The Microscale Combustion Calorimetry (MCC) method predicts flammability characteristics of materials using only milligram-size samples. The small required sample mass and a quick completion of the test makes Microscale Combustion Calorimetry an useful tool in materials development, particularly in screening a group of materials and selecting the most promising candidates for further testing in larger scale.
Microscale Combustion Calorimetry method
In the Microscale Combustion Calorimetry method a small amount of the tested material is subjected to a controlled heating rate inside the pyrolysis chamber of the device. The material may be tested either under an oxygen-free environment (usually in nitrogen) or in an oxidative atmosphere (MCC method A and method B, respectively). The sample mass is usually between 1 and 5 milligrams, and the usual heating rate is 1 °C/s. The sample is heated to a selected maximum temperature, however not higher than 900 °C. The tested material may take any form, such as fibre, powder or pellet, provided it fits inside the specimen cup 5 mm in internal diameter.
As the sample in the pyrolysis chamber is heated, the released gases are led into the combustor section of the device where they are mixed with excess oxygen. The pyrolysis gases are combusted therein, and the heat release is calculated with oxygen consumption calorimetry. Different flammability and material parameters, including heat release capacity, fire growth capacity, temperature of maximum heat release and specific heat release may be calculated from the heat release measurement.
Microscale Combustion Calorimetry – Test report
After the completion of measurements, the derived flammability and material parameters are presented in a report, and the measurement data files can be provided.