Laboratory for fire, smoke, and mechanical characterisation of materials
The Materials Characterisation Laboratory for Fire, Smoke, and Mechanical Loads is located at the IMDEA Materials Institute and is organised into two main units:
- Flammability Unit
- Mechanical Testing under Fire Conditions Unit
The laboratory is coordinated by Dr De-Yi Wang. Each unit is also supported by the scientific supervision of the laboratory coordinator and the collaboration of the technicians responsible for each unit.
Types of tests:
- Reaction-to-fire testing under controlled heat flux
- Determination of Heat Release Rate (HRR) and Total Heat Released (THR)
- Analysis of Smoke Production Rate (SPR)
- Measurement of ignition time
- Fire classification testing
- Evaluation of thermo-mechanical behaviour under fire conditions
Types of materials:
- Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers
- Polymer-based composites
- Foams and films
- Flame-retardant formulations
- Bio-based materials
- Structural materials requiring fire classification
- Energy storage materials with fire safety requirements
The Materials characterisation laboratory for fire, smoke, and mechanical loads is composed of:
Scientific Manager: Dr. De Yi Wang
Flammability Unit:
- Scientific Manager: Dr. De Yi Wang
- Technical Staff: Jimena de la Vega Blanco
Mechanical Testing under Fire Conditions Unit:
- Scientific Manager: Dr. De Yi Wang
- Technical Staff: José Agustín Hobson Rubio
Flammability Unit:
- Reaction-to-fire testing under controlled heat flux. It is used to evaluate how materials respond when exposed to a defined external thermal radiation source.
- Heat release rate (HRR) and total heat release (THR) determination. It quantifies the fire hazard of materials.
- Smoke production rate analysis (SPR). It evaluates the quantity and rate of smoke generated during material combustion.
- Ignition time measurement. It determines the time required for a material to ignite when exposed to a defined heat source.
- Fire classification testing. It provides standardized criteria for ranking the flammability of materials.
Fire-Mechanical Testing Unit:
- Coupled thermo-mechanical performance under fire conditions. It evaluates the thermo-mechanical performance under fire conditions and assesses how materials behave when subjected simultaneously to thermal exposure and mechanical loads.
Currently available equipment:
Flammability Unit:
• Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) apparatus: The Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) apparatus is used to determine the minimum concentration of oxygen in an oxygen-nitrogen mixture required to sustain the combustion of a material. This test provides a quantitative measure of flammability, expressed as the LOI value, which is widely used for comparing fire resistance among materials. The sample is mounted vertically and ignited while the oxygen concentration is adjusted until a stable flame condition is achieved. Materials with higher LOI values are considered more flame-resistant. The method is standardised (e.g., ASTM D2863, ISO 4589) and is particularly suitable for polymers and composites.
• UL-94 vertical and horizontal burning chamber: The UL-94 burning chamber is used to classify the flammability of plastic materials according to standardised vertical (V) and horizontal (HB) burning tests. In the vertical configuration, the material is exposed to a controlled flame and its afterflame time, dripping behaviour, and self-extinguishing capability are evaluated. In the horizontal configuration, the burning rate along the sample is measured. The classification system (e.g., V-0, V-1, V-2, HB) provides a widely recognised benchmark for material performance in fire scenarios. This test is essential for quality control and certification in many industrial sectors, including electronics and automotive. The chamber ensures controlled and repeatable test conditions in compliance with UL standards.
• Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC): The Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) is a small-scale analytical instrument used to measure the heat release properties of materials during controlled thermal decomposition. It operates by pyrolysing a very small sample in an inert atmosphere and subsequently combusting the evolved gases in a high-temperature oxygen stream. The heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), and heat release capacity are determined with high precision. The MCC is particularly valuable for rapid screening of materials and studying the intrinsic flammability of polymers. It requires minimal sample quantities and provides reproducible, quantitative data.
• Cone calorimeter: The cone calorimeter is one of the most advanced and widely used instruments for assessing the fire behaviour of materials under realistic fire conditions. It measures key parameters such as heat release rate, total heat release, time to ignition, mass loss rate, and smoke production. The sample is exposed to a controlled external heat flux using a cone-shaped radiant heater, simulating real fire scenarios. Based on the principle of oxygen consumption calorimetry, it provides highly reliable and standardised data (ISO 5660, ASTM E1354). The cone calorimeter is essential for understanding fire dynamics and material performance in end-use conditions.
For further information about current rates for Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) apparatus services, click here.
For further information about current rates for UL-94 vertical and horizontal burning chamber services, click here.
For further information about current rates for the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC), click here.
For further information about current rates for Cone calorimeter services, click here.
Location
IMDEA Materials Institute
2 Eric Kandel Street
Tecnogetafe
28906, Getafe, Madrid, Spain
Telephone: (+34) 91 549 34 22
Email: deyi.wang@imdea.org