Thermal Degradation Spruce (Picea abies L.) by Thermal Loading

Spruce (Picea abies L.) is one of the most widespread trees for wood processing in Slovakia, with the widest application (production of plywood, laths, fibrous and graded boards, raw materials for the paper and pulp industry, production of musical instruments). As a natural material, it does not resist the influence of initiation sources (flame, radiant heat). The aim of the article is to monitor the influence of the distance of spruce (Picea abies L.) samples from the thermal loading source on the process of its thermal degradation and ignition time. The samples were tested for hob equipment, using the EN 50281-2-1 methodology. The results of the experiment showed an exceptional increase in time and temperature dependence at the same distance of the sample surface of radiant heat. Thermal degradation of the sample touching the surface began to thermally degrade at a hot-plate temperature of 186.6 ℃ in 405 s.