Kinetic heat release rate is a molecular-level fire behavior that is proportional to the macroscopic heat release rate of a burning polymer. At the FAA we obtain the kinetic heat release rate of milligram samples by analyzing the oxygen consumed by complete combustion of the pyrolysis gases during a linear heating program. Dividing the kinetic heat release rate (W) by the sample mass (g) and rate of temperature rise (K/s) gives a material property with the units (J/g-K) and significance of a heat (release) capacity. If heat release capacity is truly a material property it is rooted in the chemical structure of the polymer and shoudl be calculable by summing the individual contributions of the molar groups comprising the molecule. Hundreds of polymers of known chemical composition have been tested to date, providing over 30 different assuming molar group additivity are in excellent agreement with experimental data for heat release capacity, suggesting a new capability for predicting flammability from polymer chemical structure.
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