CSIRO unveils fire-proof plastic

In an age where plastic (and aluminum) gadgets are bursting into flames left and right, we'd say it's about time some manufacturers looked into what CSIRO is cooking up. Scientists at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization have devised a plastic that morphs into a flame-denouncing "ceramic" structure when exposed to fire, and although the newly formed substance doesn't cool down the situation per se, it does provide a useful barrier to slow the spread of flames. The polymer transforms into a heat-restricting blockade when facing "temperatures as high as 700 degrees," but we're left to ponder what (presumably not-so-good) condition the hardened plastic would be in should things get any more heated. Considering that fires can ignite and get way out of hand relatively quickly, designers said this plastic reacts substantially quicker than humans can, and it could provide the extra time necessary to reach folks stranded in a high-rise blaze, for example. Potential applications for the two-timing plastic include oil rigs, cargo ships, aircrafts, offices, and other highly populated public buildings, but we're envisioning this going even further; it could presumably show up in flame-breathing robot protective gear or in the construction of electronics that run a bit toasty -- but who knows, maybe we're just blowing smoke.

[Zach @ Aug 11th 2006 12:21AM]

* Looks At My DELL Notebook *


Hmmm...

[Keaton @ Aug 11th 2006 12:38AM]

Zach....

Read the article again... It says it slows the spread of flames... and only up to 700 degrees... This new plastic probally wouldn't help on your Dell laptop... Mine sure feels like it reaches 700 degrees all the time... I dunno maybe it would give you time to run away before your Dell laptop caught your house on fire *wink wink*

http://thesoggycow.phpnet.us

[Josh Warner @ Aug 11th 2006 12:47AM]

While this sounds like a good idea, it's probably single use - great for buildings, but not for laptops or CE devices.

I strongly suspect the transition to "ceramic" form is non-reversible and as such, you would be left with a "ceramic" laptop, phone, etc. if this were implemented in CE devices. Furthermore, if the "ceramic" phase lives up to its name it will be quite brittle meaning a transformed "ceramic" phone might shatter if dropped, instead of denting or scratching.

The device might not burst into flames, but the heat from a rapidly discharging Li-ion battery has to go somewhere, as demanded by entropy. Either way, the device is toast and likely so will be whatever it is lying on (but it might take a little longer for the same amount of heat to escape).

[krusch @ Aug 11th 2006 1:10AM]

Soooo, what if you happen to be in the middle of this ceramic "barrier?"

[Ken @ Aug 11th 2006 2:09AM]

I, for one, would gladly pay extra for plastic that can denounce fire.

[Floop @ Aug 11th 2006 2:14AM]

700 is pretty hot.. even the worst house fire won't burn over 850

It's not a US article, remember. Therefore, it's Celcius.

[Tinus @ Aug 11th 2006 6:19AM]

Hhmm.. But how do we get rid of it when we don't use it anymore? Is it recycable?

[Taylor @ Aug 11th 2006 6:34AM]

CSIRO is Australian stuff, so yes, it's Celsius. About 1290-1295 degrees Fahrenheit.

[WhyNot @ Aug 11th 2006 10:16AM]

actually the "worst house fire won't burn over 850" isn't true. We've gotten readings one more than one occasion of 1000 - 1200 degrees. It depends on what the house is made of, what else is adding to the fire load in the way of furniture materials and any chemicals inside. Brick homes, especially old brick homes with a lot of pine inside (floors, cabinets, furniture) will burn extremely hot and fast. Office buildings and old mills are even worse because of the varying plastics and other synthetics plus you add the steel support structures and you're looking at 1600 degrees.

My concern with this plastic is: "what happens next?" Once the material changes properties, what becomes of it in regards to strength. If it becomes harder and stronger, then it may make extrication more difficult. It's kind of like the new safety measures in automobiles. Advancements in safety have made it more difficult for rescue workers to cut through cars to pull people out of them in accidents. So this material may slow the initial spread of a fire, but at the same time it may also slow fire supression and/or evacuation (if used in buildings).

[plier @ Aug 11th 2006 10:39AM]

This is bad because the fire/smoke won't beable to escape which will increase the heat of the blaze and the smoke won't escape either now this is good to put out a fire especially because there is no draft, but when people are in volved its deadly. Really bad if you're in an apartment because the classic break window and escape method won't work the window will be ceramic and too hard to break and once/if you do what happens to the room behind you filled with pressurized fire/smoke and your standinf infront of the only place it can escape? Also firemen can't shoot out the windows with the hose as easily. Good concept, but not for home use.(thumbs down)

[dork @ Aug 11th 2006 2:19PM]

Are you stupid? It's designed to go between floors, to keep the fire spreading to upper and lower floors. They weren't going to make windows and doors out of it, dumb ass.

[capagotks @ Aug 11th 2006 5:31PM]

yeah, us australians are pretty smart, eh?

[Michael @ Aug 11th 2006 5:53PM]

Funny - that article starts out *exactly* like a blurb for "Farenheit 451"

[Kostika @ Aug 12th 2006 5:42AM]

Plier you're not thinking this through. If a fire is unable to get oxygen then it won't burn hotter or fiercer and will actualy begin to die out. Sure some of the fire will be able to pull oxygen frmo the cracks in a building, but that would be considerably less than if a window was broken feeding the fire and making it bigger and hotter.

You wouldn't use this on a house anyhow though. Houses have windows you open. It defeats part of it's use if you can just open the window.

[mottl3y @ Aug 13th 2006 10:17PM]

http://www.csiro.au/csiro/content/standard/ps23v,,.html

[dc @ Nov 28th 2006 6:51AM]

Whoa, the CSRIO actually do something other than make robots. Because thats what I thought they did. Make robots with legs that walk around in circles. At least thats what they were doing last time I heard about them.

[Me @ Apr 12th 2007 1:07PM]

I know this is off topic but it may have a use in firearms. Slowly poeple have been moving toward plastics because metal rusts and deforms easily. Up untill now all firearems rely at least a little on metal because it can deal with heat. If they could replace metal they would due to the fact I rusts and requiers lots of atention so replaceing It with a nice plastic would be nice. I have a felling if when it is dropped (after becomeing ceramic) it dose not shatter then this may well the the death sentance for metal in firearms. Although I admit I'm thinking itss strong enough but It's an Intersting thought.

[Chris @ Jun 20th 2008 1:34AM]

Clearly the material is only as smart as the people who apply it to buildings/products/saftey equipment. Its obviously going to perform better than some current plastics, and if your phone or laptop bursts into flames im sure the ceramic case is the least of your worries, post explosion.