Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes

Thermal insulation materials are important for building energy conservation, but the inherent combustibility of these materials increases the fire risk of building facades. To better understand the fire behaviors of these materials, the study of the kinetics of thermal insulation pyrolysis is partic...

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Main Authors: Youchao Zhang, Bo Wang, Li Xu, Zhiming Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3956
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author Youchao Zhang
Bo Wang
Li Xu
Zhiming Ma
author_facet Youchao Zhang
Bo Wang
Li Xu
Zhiming Ma
author_sort Youchao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Thermal insulation materials are important for building energy conservation, but the inherent combustibility of these materials increases the fire risk of building facades. To better understand the fire behaviors of these materials, the study of the kinetics of thermal insulation pyrolysis is particularly important because it is the initial step in ignition and combustion during fire. In this paper, the pyrolysis behavior of expanded polystyrene (EPS), a typical non-charring insulation polymer, has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis at five different heating rates. The model-free kinetic analysis showed that the obtained average values for E and lnA were 151.23 kJ/mol and 21.29 ln/s, respectively. Model-fitting CR and masterplot methods indicated that f(α) = [2(1-α)[-ln(1-α)]]<sup>1/2</sup> is considered the pyrolysis reaction mechanism of EPS degradation. Based on these results, the equation of the kinetic compensation effect was further developed as lnA = −3.1955 + 0.1736 E<sub>α</sub>. Finally, the reaction model was reconstructed with the result of the expression <i>f</i>(α) = 3.95335α<sup>0.24174</sup> (1-α) [-ln(1-α)]<sup>1.64712</sup>. In addition, PY-GC-MS experiments were conducted to analyze the composition of EPS pyrolysis volatiles. The results showed that the products were mainly compounds of benzene, naphthalene, and biphenyl. The analysis of EPS pyrolysis behavior and evolved gas provides numerical guidance for the future treatment and fire protection of insulation materials.
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spelling doaj-art-9701edbf9cfc4ed18b2c6f891e78151f2025-08-20T02:00:18ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-12-011412395610.3390/buildings14123956Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior EnvelopesYouchao Zhang0Bo Wang1Li Xu2Zhiming Ma3College of Architectural Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, ChinaCollege of Architectural Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, ChinaCollege of Architectural Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, ChinaCollege of Architectural Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, ChinaThermal insulation materials are important for building energy conservation, but the inherent combustibility of these materials increases the fire risk of building facades. To better understand the fire behaviors of these materials, the study of the kinetics of thermal insulation pyrolysis is particularly important because it is the initial step in ignition and combustion during fire. In this paper, the pyrolysis behavior of expanded polystyrene (EPS), a typical non-charring insulation polymer, has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis at five different heating rates. The model-free kinetic analysis showed that the obtained average values for E and lnA were 151.23 kJ/mol and 21.29 ln/s, respectively. Model-fitting CR and masterplot methods indicated that f(α) = [2(1-α)[-ln(1-α)]]<sup>1/2</sup> is considered the pyrolysis reaction mechanism of EPS degradation. Based on these results, the equation of the kinetic compensation effect was further developed as lnA = −3.1955 + 0.1736 E<sub>α</sub>. Finally, the reaction model was reconstructed with the result of the expression <i>f</i>(α) = 3.95335α<sup>0.24174</sup> (1-α) [-ln(1-α)]<sup>1.64712</sup>. In addition, PY-GC-MS experiments were conducted to analyze the composition of EPS pyrolysis volatiles. The results showed that the products were mainly compounds of benzene, naphthalene, and biphenyl. The analysis of EPS pyrolysis behavior and evolved gas provides numerical guidance for the future treatment and fire protection of insulation materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3956pyrolysis behaviorkinetic triplesmodel reconstructionPY-GC-MS
spellingShingle Youchao Zhang
Bo Wang
Li Xu
Zhiming Ma
Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
Buildings
pyrolysis behavior
kinetic triples
model reconstruction
PY-GC-MS
title Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
title_full Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
title_fullStr Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
title_full_unstemmed Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
title_short Pyrolysis Modeling and Kinetic Study of Typical Insulation Materials for Building Exterior Envelopes
title_sort pyrolysis modeling and kinetic study of typical insulation materials for building exterior envelopes
topic pyrolysis behavior
kinetic triples
model reconstruction
PY-GC-MS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3956
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AT bowang pyrolysismodelingandkineticstudyoftypicalinsulationmaterialsforbuildingexteriorenvelopes
AT lixu pyrolysismodelingandkineticstudyoftypicalinsulationmaterialsforbuildingexteriorenvelopes
AT zhimingma pyrolysismodelingandkineticstudyoftypicalinsulationmaterialsforbuildingexteriorenvelopes