Study on the influence of aging time and temperature and humidity on cable combustion characteristics

To investigate the effects of temperature and humidity on PVC cable combustion during thermal aging and its temporal variations. Three conditions: 85℃/90℃ thermal aging, 85℃/85% humidity damp-heat aging. Tested combustion characteristics with cone calorimeter, analyzed ignition time, heat release rate, fire performance index, smoke production rate, and CO/CO2 volume fraction. Results: 85℃ aging and damp-heat aging increased ignition time from 17s to 27s, 90℃ aging had little effect, stable at 25s. During combustion, cable material changed from hot thick to hot thin, heat release rate decreased with aging days, peaking three times. 85℃ aging reduced heat release rate to 130 KW/m2, 90℃ and damp-heat aging delayed to 160 KW/m2 and 140 KW/m2 respectively. Fire risk was higher for 6 and 5 days aging compared to 85℃. Aging days reduced flue gas, but high temperature and humidity increased production.