Experimental Study on the Surface Pyrolysis Properties and Modeling of Expanded Polystyrene

Abstract

Insulation materials are widely used in buildings for energy conservation. However, a combustible insulation material poses a potential risk of rapid flame propagation in the event of a fire. Since ignition occurs through surface pyrolysis before combustion takes place, it is important to understand the pyrolysis process of insulation materials. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted at different heating rates to investigate the pyrolysis of expanded polystyrene (EPS). The results indicate that the pyrolysis of EPS occurs in one stage, with weight loss occurring at temperatures in the range of 370–430 ℃. The pyrolysis kinetics were analyzed using the model-free and model-free method based on TGA results. Kinetic analysis allowed for the determination of pyrolysis parameters such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction mechanism of EPS. Furthermore, the suitability of the pyrolysis parameters obtained in this study was examined using a pyrolysis model for fire simulation.