Influence of inert diluent in oxidizing atmosphere on limiting conditions of combustion polymers

The influence of the inert diluent in the oxidizing atmosphere on the temperature of ignition, surface temperature gradient, and the rate of combustion of polymethylmethacrylate in granular form, is reviewed. It is shown that the flame temperature was almost independent of the type of inert diluent. The temperature gradient increased with the Lewis number of the oxidizing atmosphere. The limiting mass concentration of oxygen was related to the heat capacity of the inert diluent. The heat of combustion depended on the coefficient of the thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of the inert diluent and the Grashoff number and the mass transfer.