How to test the flame retardant and weatherability of Rogers foam?
The flame retardancy and weatherability of Rogers foam (PORON® polyurethane, BISCO® silica gel) are all tested in the laboratory according to the general industry standard+Rogers material characteristics, and the core is combustion behavior, self-extinguishing, thermal stability and performance retention rate after environmental aging. The following is a complete test system, standards and judgment points.
A, flame retardant performance test (core standard+method)
1. UL 94 vertical combustion (V-0/V-1/V-2, the mainstream of electronics/new energy)
Application: electronic/battery-grade foam such as poron40v0 and BISCO® flame-retardant silicone.
Sample: 125×13× thickness (≤13mm), pretreated at 23℃/50% RH for 48h； hours; Another group was aged at 70℃ for 168h h.
Steps:
Clamp vertically, light the 25mm bottom with bunsen burner (20mm blue flame) for 10s, and remove it.
Record the afterflame time t1, afterburning time t2, and whether the absorbent cotton drops to ignite.
Judgment (V-0 is the strictest):
A single t1≤10s, and five total t1≤50s.
A single t2≤30s, without dripping and igniting cotton.
The flame does not burn to the clamping end.
2. UL 94 HBF horizontal combustion (special for foam, automobile/general)
Application: PORON® regular series, automotive interior foam (FMVSS 302 equivalent)
Specimen: 150×50× thickness (≤13mm), divided into two groups: original/70℃ thermal aging for 168h h.
Step: place horizontally and ignite under the edge for 60s；; Record the spreading time of 25mm→125mm, whether it is self-extinguishing and dripping.
Judge:
Combustion speed ≤ 100mm/min (within 40mm).
Or self-extinguishing before 125mm, no continuous flame/light.
3. Automobile Flame Retardant FMVSS 302 (interior mandatory)
Sample: 100×350mm, horizontal.
Judgment: combustion speed ≤102mm/min, or self-extinguishing.
4. Aviation flame retardant FAR 25.853 (aircraft interior)
Vertical combustion: 12s ignition, afterflame ≤15s, no dripping.
Smoke density/toxicity: low smoke and toxicity, meeting FAA requirements.
5. oxygen index OI(ASTM D2863/GB/T 2406.2)
Definition: Minimum oxygen concentration (%) to maintain stable combustion.
Judgment: OI≥28% is flame retardant; Rogers flame retardant foam is usually ≥30%.
6. Cone calorimeter (ISO 5660)
Measurement: heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), smoke density and mass loss.
Used for: system-level fire safety assessment.
Second, the weather resistance test (environmental aging+performance maintenance)
1. Thermal aging (long-term stability at high temperature)
Standards: ASTM D814, GB/T 3512
Conditions:
PORON®：70℃/168h、90℃/1000h
BISCO®：150℃/1000h、200℃/500h
Detection:
Compression set (25% compression, 22h/70℃, preferably ≤10%)
Retention rate of hardness, tensile strength and elongation at break (≥80%)
Appearance: no cracking, stickiness and pulverization.
2. Ultraviolet aging (UV, outdoor/sunlight exposure)
Standards: ASTM G154(UVB-313), GB/T 16422.3.
Conditions: 340nm, 0.76 w/m, 60℃, 8h illumination+4h condensation, 500-1000h h.
Detection:
Color difference ΔE≤3 (no obvious yellowing/fading)
Retention rate of tensile/compressive properties
No powdering and cracking on the surface.
3. Humid heat aging (high temperature and high humidity, coastal/humid environment)
Standards: ASTM D4585, IEC 60068-2-78.
Conditions: 40℃/95%RH, 500-1000h h.
Detection:
Water absorption (weight change ≤5%)
Dimensional stability (≤ 2%)
Mechanical property retention rate
4. Temperature cycle (cold and hot shock, vehicle/aviation)
Conditions:-40℃, 90℃ (PORON),-55℃ and 200℃ (BISCO), with 50–100 cycles.
Inspection: no delamination and cracking, and normal compression rebound.
5. Salt spray test (ASTM B117, Coastal/Industrial)
Conditions: 5%NaCl, 35℃, 96–500 h.
Testing: no corrosion, no pulverization, and performance retention rate.
6. Ozone aging (ASTM D1149, outdoor/industrial)
Conditions: 50ppm O₃, 40℃, stretching 20%, 100h h.
Inspection: no crack and no hardening.
III. Core judgment index after test (typical value of Rogers foam)
flame retardation
Ul 94 v-0: poron 40 v0, BISCO® flame retardant series
Ul 94 hbf: poron 4701/4790 regular series
FMVSS 302: Pass (combustion speed ≤100mm/min)
Far25.853: BISCO aviation class passed.
Oxygen index OI: flame retardant ≥30%, ordinary ≥24%.
Weather resistance (retention rate after aging)
Compression set: 70℃/22h ≤10%.
Tensile strength: thermal aging for 1000h ≥80%
Color difference δ e: uv 500h ≤ 3.
Water absorption: wet and hot for 1000h ≤3%
Salt spray for 96h: no corrosion, performance ≥90%.
Fourth, the test process (commonly used in material certification)
Sampling: according to the standard cutting, divided into original/thermal aging/UV/wet and hot groups.
Pretreatment: 23℃/50% RH for 48h.
Aging: according to the corresponding conditions.
Performance test:
Flame retardant: UL 94, oxygen index, cone calorimeter.
Weather resistance: compression set, tension, hardness, color difference, size.
Report: grade judgment+performance retention rate+qualified conclusion
V. Test combinations corresponding to common applications
Electronics/New Energy: UL 94 V-0+Thermal aging (70℃/168h)+ Humid heat (40℃/95% RH/500h).
Automobile interior: FMVSS 302+temperature cycle (-40℃~90℃/50 times)+ozone aging.
Aviation: FAR 25.853+thermal aging (150℃/1000h)+ low smoke and low toxicity.
Outdoor/industrial: UV aging (500h)+ salt spray (500h)+ thermal aging (90℃/1000h)
