Investigation of Flame Retardant Chemicals

Investigation of Flame Retardant Chemicals 1.0 Introduction Cotton has been used for textile fibre for a long time. It is cool and comfortable to wear. The air spaces within the fibres allow the fibre to absorb liquids. Cotton can be chemically treated to make it fire-resistant by soaking it into chemicals mixed with water. A fibre is a strand composed of polymer chains twisted around each other. All fabrics will burn with some being more combustible than other, as shown in Figure 2, combustion requires energy, fuel source and oxygen (), but their burning rates can be reduced with flame-retardants applied through chemical-treatment. Flame retardants are usually added to consumer products for furnituZhZhre, insulation, textiles and electronics to meet the flammability standards. The flammability is how easily something will burn-or-ignite, causing fire-or-combustion (Wikipedia, 2014). There are complete, incomplete combustion and charring occurs during incomplete combustion, which refers to burning in a lack of sufficient air. Not all carbon atoms form carbon dioxide, some or all may turn into carbon monoxide or forms pure carbon particles (soot) or deposits (char). Flame retardants are used for preventing fires from starting or for delaying fire, as well as limiting the spread of fire and minimise the fire damage. Solid-materials do-not burn directly; they must be decomposed by heat (pyrolysis) first to release flammable gases. When the flammable gas burns with oxygen in the air, visible flames will appear. However, if solid-materials do-not break-down into gases, they will only be slow smouldering and usually extinguish themselves. Especially if materials ‘char’, then form a stable-carbonaceous barrier which prevents-access of the flame to the-underlying material (EFRA, 2014). When materials have been ignited, the heat generated breaks down from long-chain solid molecules to smaller molecules which transpire as gases. Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4] is an inorganic salt with various commercial uses (Wikipedia, 2014), and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH4H2PO4) forms when a phosphoric acid solution is put into ammonia till the solution is significantly acidic. These are used as flame retardants in our experiment in investigate which chemical is a better flame retardant at their maximum and half concentration. Discussion Analysis The most effective flame retardant was judged by the average differences of mass before and after burning of ammonium sulphate (AS) and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) at their maximum (M) and half maximum (H) concentrations. The control has the highest differences of mass of 1.48g, because it fully burned after it is put on fire for three seconds. 5.62mol/L (M) AS and 3.48mol/L (M) ADH have average differences of mass of 0.2g and 0.073g, which are less than the 2.81mol/L (H)AS and 1.74mol/L (H)ADH. This show the chemicals were more effective at their maximum concentration. Due to an anomaly that occurred in the average area burnt data, the average area burnt result in Table 3.1.3 and Graph 3.2.2 for ADH solution cannot provide a high accuracy data, so this result will be disregarded. The percentage differences between the mass before burning and average mass were calculated for comparing and justified 3.48mol/L ADH was the best flame retardant in this experiment. Water had the highest percentage difference which proves that water has little or no flame retardant ability. Obviously, MADH has the least percentage difference which supports that ADH is a good flame retardant. A higher molarity resulted in a better flame retardant. Both chemicals had better results in resisting the burning process at maximum concentrations. There was lots of charring on fibres soaked in MADH after burning (black substances showed it was only burnt on the surface), and only a little amount of charring occurred on MAS’s fibre. The layer of carbon (black substances) on fibre’s/polymer’s surface is charring which proves the chemical is a good flame retardant. The more char fibre has, the more effective the chemical of that fibre coated with. When the fibres soaked in the other three solutions were burned, charring was only present on the edges. Charring occurs during incomplete combustion, which proves the lack of sufficient air during the burning, and therefore supports the result that 3.48mol/L ADH was the best flame retardant. [(NH4)2SO4] and ADH (NH4H2PO4) both have NH4 and hydrogen, however, the main difference is sulphate and phosphate. Although AS h as one more nitrogen and two more hydrogen atoms than ADH, from the results, element phosphate can be predicted as having a better flame retardant ability than element sulphate. Evaluation Improvements The results have a high level of consistency, as the range of values between trials was small, with a few anomalies. Table 7.3.1 shows the mass before and after burning of Trial 2 of the control (0.24g), which had a significant large disparity with the other trials’ data (0.04g 0.03g). Although it could be removed from calculation of average, due to its small effect on the overall results, it was kept. Table 7.3.1 also shows the amount of burnt area of Control Trial 2 (88 squares) was lower than the other two trials (both fully burned), and is therefore a significant anomaly. This occurred as the fibres weren’t always steadily put at the same spot in the flame. This could be improved by placing the fibre in the flame more carefully, and performing a few more trials to ensure the overall accuracy. Part of our group experiment was done twice, due to a systematic error. At first, the fibres coated with MADH and HADH were not timed, so the time that the fibres were soaked varied. The beakers might be put in the wrong concentration of ADH as it was marked. Therefore, those fibres might contain less or more solution, which explains the HADH solution’s results that appeared to be a better flame retardant than the MADH solution. A second attempt on the ADH solutions was successful, and showed much better results, matching the expected results. These results were used for analysing with the water and AS solutions’ data. At half maximum concentration, the molarity is lower than the maximum concentration, but in Table 3.1.3 result of 1.74 mol/L HADH had a smaller area burnt than the MADH. Table 7.3.2 also shows the unexpected results of area burnt for ADH. This may be a systematic error as human judgement was required to count the number of burnt squares. Burning time can be recorded to the future experiment, to determine the best flame retardant. The mass retained of chemicals at their maximum concentration should be twice of the half concentration mass retained. Table 3.1.5 shows fibres’ masses at maximum concentration is 1.236 (AS) and 1.289 (ADH) times of their half maximum concentration; Graph 2.3.4 shows the growing trend of the mass retained at their half and maximum concentration. The exponential trend due to when chemicals at their maximum concentration the mass retained won’t grow any higher. In this experiment AS and ADH weren’t actually done at the same concentration, so in future experiment the ultimate test of the best flame retardant is to do the chemicals at the same concentrations. Alternatively, aluminium potassium sulphate-12-water and disodium tetraborate-10-water can be added into the experiment, and investigate the best flame retardant.

A diverse and interesting learning environment for all students Essay

Accepting attitudes towards all human beings creates a diverse and interesting learning environment for all students. I recall an incident while at a summer program a few years ago. We, the students, were staying overnight on a college campus to participate in seminars that would further our growth and readiness for the future. As part of the program, we were required to stay overnight in the dorm rooms. We were each paired up with one other person who would be our roommate for the two days. I come from a neighborhood that is primarily white so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I would be sharing a room with someone who was from the Middle East. We quickly settled into our rooms and prepared ourselves for the first of two days of learning activities. My roommate awoke, got up and spread a blanket on the floor to pray. I watched my roommate kneeling on the floor saying words in a language that I didn’t understand. When finished, I asked my roommate about this practice and learned a little bit about the Muslim religion and why prayers are said several times daily. See more: Satirical essay about drugs I also had the opportunity to share a little bit about my own faith. I had a large amount of respect for my roommate because it isn’t easy to pray in front of other people let alone people one doesn’t even know. I also gained respect because my roommate wasn’t ashamed of praying or of the Muslim faith. This experience has helped prepare me for life in a world made up of people from all over the world with different values, viewpoints and religions. My own background and life achievements would add to the diversity of University because I too have valuable ideas and customs that would add to the interesting mix of University life. My ability to gain respect for people who have different life values enables me to be a student of a University that embraces acceptance for other cultures. Even though I would be considered the majority, I welcome the opportunity to learn alongside people from different places.

Cultural homogeneity and globalization Essay

Cultural homogeneity and globalization are becoming concepts that are subjects of debate in the world eye. Some scholars and politicians argue for the increase of globalization, and some argue against. The world is becoming smaller and more homogenous and this holds many advantages, some disadvantages, and is creating a future that is full of possibilities. According to the Merriam-Webster Online, globalization is â€Å"the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets†. However, the concept of globalization is much more complex than this. Jan Scholte argues, in her paper about globalization, that, â€Å"Most attempts to quantify globalization have conceived of the process as internationalization. † (8) So, in effect globalization is the concept of the exchange of ideas and goods becoming not a national concept anymore, but an international one. Because globalization increases that amount of goods and ideas that are being traded internationally, it also has an effect on the pervasion of cultural homogeny throughout the world. Homogeny is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, â€Å"being of a similar kind or type, uniform throughout† (221). So, in essence globalization is causing the worlds peoples to become more like on another through the dispersion of goods and ideas. Cultural homogeny is becoming more noticeable in today’s society because of the large amount of media and other goods that are part of a larger global marketplace. For example, â€Å"Young people everywhere are listening to the same music† (Rourke and Boyer 110). This does not mean, however, that young people are all listening to â€Å"western† music. Many different types of music are becoming part of young people listening preferences and musicians and other artists from all over the world are becoming recognized internationally. Clothing is another area where there is more of a trend towards homogeneity. Rourke and Boyer note, â€Å"The leaders of China used to wear â€Å"Mao suits†; now they wear Western-style business suits† (110). As cultural homogeny becomes more of an issue that is receiving media coverage and is becoming more recognized in the world eye, it has been discussed by many scholars as to whether it is advantageous for the world’s peoples. There have been concerns voiced, â€Å"For example, languages have been disappearing at rates as worrying as those for species extinction† (Wurm), and the fact that the world is made up of many rich cultures that might be watered down into â€Å"a less vibrant monoculture† (Rourke, et. al 113) if globalization continues at its current pace. However, there are many advantages both cultural and economic to globalization and there is a lot of acceptance and praise for its continuation. Rourke and Boyer state, â€Å"Most people welcome the availability of foreign culture. A worldwide survey in 45 countries found that 77% thought that having foreign products available was good, and 61% felt that way about foreign movies and other entertainment media† (113). Part of the argument against globalization by some is that it is limited to western culture pervading all other cultures and taking them over. However, there are examples that can be shown that cultural homogeneity is a worldwide phenomenon. If we look at â€Å"American culture, for example, (it) is influenced by many foreign imports, ranging from fajitas and sushi, through soccer, to acupuncture† (Rourke, et. al 110). American and other western teenagers have more choices through this concept to listen to and view media from other countries. Also, Rourke and Boyer note that â€Å"the interchange of popular consumer goods is another major factor in narrowing of culture gaps† (111) and that this is the case throughout the world, not just of goods going one way out of America and other western countries. Globalization and cultural homogeneity are inextricably linked and are changing the way that the world functions in many ways. Media, goods and ideas are flowing freely from country to country, and this is creating a global society that is a mix of all cultures and economies. ? References Globalization. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved March 26, 2010, from http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/globalization. Homogeny. (2002). Webster’s pocket dictionary of the English language. Trident International. Rourke, J. T. & Boyer, M. A. (2010). International Politics on the World Stage (8th brief ed. ). Primis Online: McGraw Hill. Scholte, J. (2002). What is Globalization? The definitional issue – again. CSGR Working Paper, 109/02, 1-8. Wurm, S. A. (ed. ), Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing (Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1996).

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