SDL upgrades equipment to test textiles flame resistance
September 12, 2014 - United States Of America
In response to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) revising the D6413/D6413M standard test method for flame resistance of textiles, SDL Atlas said it too has modified their Automatic Gas Controller (AGC) which is used in the SDL Atlas Vertical Flammability Chamber and the Atlas HVUL2 Horizontal Vertical Flame Chamber.
The D6413/D6413M test method determines the vertical flame resistance of a textile in response to a standard ignition source, deriving measurement values for afterflame time, afterglow time, and char length.
SDL Atlas said the AGC modification specifically addresses the distance between the solenoid valve and burner which, as in the previous standard, could allow the flame to linger past the test’s termination.
“Originally the solenoid was built into the AGC main unit and connected by a short gas hose which. After the flame impingement timer shut off the gas supply solenoid, the residue gas that existed inside the connection hose had the potential to continue to ignite the burner until the gas was fully consumed”, it added.
“Some users worried such lingering effect prolonged the flame application time, thus affected the test result. The length of time for which the test material continues to flame after the ignition source has been removed is commonly referred to as the afterflame”, SDL explained.
SDL Atlas representatives worked with the ASTM committee in drafting the standard update to eliminate this lingering effect by bringing the solenoid valve closer to the burner. With the enhanced SDL Atlas AGC burner, the solenoid valve is installed just next to the Bunsen burner, within the distance that required by the ASTM D6413 update, the company informed.
“All new SDL Atlas Vertical Flammability Chambers and Atlas HVUL2 Horizontal Vertical Flame Chambers will have the modified AGC effective immediately and additionally, existing users can get a solenoid retrofit kit for their existing AGC and easily convert their machine to the new arrangement”, SDL said.
With offices in the United States, Hong Kong and China, plus agents in over 100 countries, SDL Atlas manufactures textile testing equipment. (AR)
The D6413/D6413M test method determines the vertical flame resistance of a textile in response to a standard ignition source, deriving measurement values for afterflame time, afterglow time, and char length.
SDL Atlas said the AGC modification specifically addresses the distance between the solenoid valve and burner which, as in the previous standard, could allow the flame to linger past the test’s termination.
“Originally the solenoid was built into the AGC main unit and connected by a short gas hose which. After the flame impingement timer shut off the gas supply solenoid, the residue gas that existed inside the connection hose had the potential to continue to ignite the burner until the gas was fully consumed”, it added.
“Some users worried such lingering effect prolonged the flame application time, thus affected the test result. The length of time for which the test material continues to flame after the ignition source has been removed is commonly referred to as the afterflame”, SDL explained.
SDL Atlas representatives worked with the ASTM committee in drafting the standard update to eliminate this lingering effect by bringing the solenoid valve closer to the burner. With the enhanced SDL Atlas AGC burner, the solenoid valve is installed just next to the Bunsen burner, within the distance that required by the ASTM D6413 update, the company informed.
“All new SDL Atlas Vertical Flammability Chambers and Atlas HVUL2 Horizontal Vertical Flame Chambers will have the modified AGC effective immediately and additionally, existing users can get a solenoid retrofit kit for their existing AGC and easily convert their machine to the new arrangement”, SDL said.
With offices in the United States, Hong Kong and China, plus agents in over 100 countries, SDL Atlas manufactures textile testing equipment. (AR)