Science Project

Testing the Flammability of materials

Purpose

• The Purpose of this Science Project is to test and find out which type of material is the most flammable out of five selected materials.

Hypothsis

• My hypothesis is that wool will be the most flammable object . I believe this because it wasn’t a tightly knit material like the other samples.

Materials• Lighter

• Blow torch

• Scissors

• Cardboard box

• Fire extinguisher

• 100 % Cotton material

• 100 % Polyester material

• 100 % Acrylic material

• 100% Wool

Materials continued• 100% Nylon

• Timer

• Wire clothes hanger

• Measuring tape

• Clothespins

• Duct tape

• Utility knife

• Jug filled with water

Method• Acquire 5 different fabrics.

• Cut fabrics into 6 X 6 inch squares (3 squares per fabric).

• Convert box into a fireplace.

• Insert clothes hanger into box.

• Find an area away from the wind.

• Have fire extinguisher close at hand.

• Have all materials needed for experiment.

Method continued

• Individually, apply for 3 seconds to the material.

• Observe, time and record findings.

• The 5 different types of fabric that I chose to burn.

The 5 different types of fabric that I chose to burnThe 5 different types of fabric that I chose to burn

Manipulated Variable

Responding Variable

• The length of time taken for the fabric to completely burn and for the fire to be completely out.

Controlled Variable

• The size of the fabric.

• The environment in which the experiment is being done.

• The amount of time the torch is held to the fabric.

Results

• It should be noted first that two of the materials that I choose would not stay lit once the flame was removed. It only would melt a hole into the sample. These materials were nylon and polyester.

Results

Results of Material Flammability Test

0

50

100

150

Acrylic Wool Cotton

Materials

Seco

nds

1st

2nd

3rd

Analysis

0

20

40

60

Seconds

Acrylic Wool Cotton

Materials

Analysis

Series1

Conclusion

• The acrylic turned out to be the most flammable material out of the 5 samples. The nylon and polyester materials would not stay lit and only melted. My hypothesis was wrong, I thought that wool would burn the fastest.

Sources of Error

• Too much air flow.

• Other unknown chemicals in the fabrics. (Example: laundry detergent)

• Too much flame added to the fabric when being lit.

Ways to Improve• Having an enclosed environment where

there is very little air flow.

• Having all the fabric brand new from the factory so that there are no additional chemicals added. Example: laundry detergent.

• Having the exact amount of flame for each material.

• Having a device to hold each fabric the same way each time while its being burnt.