THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION PROCESS OF A POLYETHYLENE PELLET IN A HOT STAGNATION FLOW

A low density polyethylene specimen fixed at the stagnation plate of h igh temperature air jet was measured on the time histories of thermal decomposition rate and temperature, and it was verified that the conve ctive heat Bur at the surface of specimen controlled the thermal decom position rate, Moreover, from another series of experiment using a col lum shape specimen whose end surface was always fixed at the stagnatio n plate and exposed to the hot jet, the temperature distribution insid e the polyethylene specimen was obtained and also the thickness of mel ting layer was estimated From the distribution.