Pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of typical sealing materials for exterior building windows

Seals play a crucial role in preventing flame penetration through building exterior windows. However, as urban renewal accelerates, the number of discarded seals is also gradually increasing, which is not in line with the concept of green, energy-saving sustainable development. To gain a better understanding of the pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of sealing strips and facilitate their effective resource utilization and conversion into value-added fuels, we employed thermogravimetry, cone calorimetry, and flue gas spreading test equipment. Typical sealing and filling materials used for external windows of buildings, including EPDM ordinary adhesive strips (EPDM-O), EPDM flame-retardant adhesive strips (EPDM-R), as well as 20-fold expanding graphite strips and 30-fold expanding graphite strips (EG-20 and EG-30), were investigated. Comprehensive evaluations of their pyrolysis behaviors, kinetic parameters, and combustion characteristic parameters were carried out. The results showed that EPDM exhibits good thermal stability, while EG had better demonstrates favorable pyrolysis properties and expansion densification. Average activation energies of EPDM-O and EPDM-R in the combustion phase were 68.35 kJmol−1 and 92.40 kJmol−1, respectively. Moreover, the average activation energies of EG-20 and EG-30 in the expanding combustion phase were 67.42 kJ·mol−1 and 68.62 kJ·mol−1, respectively. The reaction rate of combustion stage is faster than that of pyrolysis stage. Furthermore, For the combustion, the flame growth index (FGI) of EPDM is greater than that of EG, whereas the flame spread index (FPI) is lower than EG. When EPDM burns, the flame spreads rapidly, while EG expands and generates a large number of wormlike substances, effectively preventing the high temperature from spreading to the interior of the material. Analyses of smoke spreading tests have shown that both EPDM and EG can produce irritating flammable fumes at high temperatures, affecting the environment. These results provide a basis for the development of new materials and contributes to fire safety, smoke management, and personnel escape planning.