RESEARCH TEMPERATURES OF IGNITION AND SELF-IGNITION OF COTTON AND POLYESTER FABRICS

Formulation of the problem. Most of the fabrics used in the technological processes of garment enterprises are classified as combustible materials and are part of the fire load, which threatens the outbreak and rapid spread of fires in the premises of garment factories. Therefore, it is important to study the indicators of the fire hazard of fabrics to identify the most dangerous of them, as well as to increase the efficiency of fire safety at sewing enterprises.The purpose of the work is to obtain the dependences of the values of ignition and self-ignition temperatures of cotton fabrics on the composition of cotton.Results. It was found that the crushed 100% cotton fabric flamed best, and the worst − solid polyester as a fabric without cotton. The lowest value of the temperature at which ignition was observed was 215°C for cotton (100%, shredded fabric), and if this value is reduced - there were failures, which are caused in particular by the fact that at lower temperatures flammable vapours are no formed in concentrations sufficient for combustion. It was found that the ignition / spontaneous combustion temperatures for a solid sample of the fabric with a composition of 100% cotton are 235°C/420°C, and for a solid sample of the fabric with a composition of 100% polyester − 360°C/500°C, respectively. Ignition / spontaneous com-bustion temperatures for finely divided fabrics are 8,5%/4,78% (cotton fabric) and 2.8%/6% (polyester) lower than the values obtained for whole fabrics.Results. According to the results of the analysis of the most common fabrics (table 1) used in garment enterprises. Identified that the biggest fire hazard is inherent containing cotton. The lowest ignition temperature is observed for cotton (100% shredded fabric) and is 215°C, which is 1,63 times less than the ignition temperature of polyester (0% cotton, shredded fabric). The lowest self-ignition temperature is also observed for cotton (100% shredded fabric) and is 400°C, which is 1,18 less than the self-ignition temperature of polyester (0% cotton, shredded fabric).