The Experimental Study of Flame Behavior of Flexible Polyurethane Foam (Sponge), as a Sound-Absorbing Element

Polyurethane foam (PF) is a versatile polymer widely used in various applications. By changing the composition of polyol and isocyanate, these foams can be classified into rigid polyurethane foams (PUFRs) and flexible polyurethane foams (PUFFs). The flexible polyurethane foam (PUFFs) is well known for its sound absorption capacities; nevertheless, its flammability poses significant safety hazards. The purpose of this study is to look into how flexible polyurethane foam reacts to fire, specifically its combustion properties, and the risks that come with them. The study aims to find out the rates of horizontal and vertical burning, the make-up of the reaction products, and the temperatures that build up inside the polyurethane foam mass when a support pole is placed in front of the stage and sound-absorbing material is added to stop stage sounds from reverberating. There were performed experiments to determine the fire behavior of the samples in contact with an ignition source in the form of a small flame and experiments to determine the ignition temperature of the sound-absorbing sponge, where it was found that vertical position accelerates combustion, and in practical applications, this aspect must be considered for fire prevention. To determine the combustion gases, several methods were used, namely spectrophotometric, ion chromatography, and gas-chromatographic methods. Analysis of the gases resulting from the combustion of the sound-absorbing sponge indicates the presence of dangerous toxic compounds (hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and hydrochloric acid), which can endanger human health in the event of a fire.