Abstract: Combustion characteristics of polyester fabric polypropylene fiberglass board, polyester fabric polypropylene hemp fiber board and PVC leather polypropylene hemp fiber board were experimentally investigated under radiation heat flux of 25, 35, 50 kW/m2 by cone calorimeter, such as the ignition time, mass loss percentage and heat release rate, etc. The ignition prediction model was selected to calculate the critical thermal radiation intensity of these materials. Flashover tendency index and total heat release were adopted to evaluate their potential fire hazard. The results showed that the mass loss percentage of polyester fabric polypropylene hemp fiber board is the maximum, and the structural integrity is the worst correspondingly under the experimental radiation heat flux. The average ignition time of polyester fabric polypropylene fiberglass board is the minimum as well as the critical thermal radiation intensity, it is most likely to be ignited. The peak heat release rate of PVC leather polypropylene hemp fiber board is the highest, and the probability of flashover presents the greatest due to the lowest fire performance index.

Key words: cone calorimeter, automotive interior materials, characteristic parameter, potential fire hazards