Effect of radiant heat on straw

The straw is mostly used in agriculture as fodder or bedding for livestock. It is a natural organic material, i.e. flammable. This article deals with the observation of the behaviour of straw when heat loaded to radiant heat. The aim of the article is to experimentally determine the ignition temperature of straw as a function of the time of exposure to radiant heat. At the same time, there was determination straw’s samples of the minimum ignition temperature using isothermal testing on a hot-plate according to EN 50281-2-1:1998. The influence of a selected amount of straw sample on the thermal degradation behaviour, the temperature increase inside the sample and the ignition temperature of the sample as a function of time was observed. There were identification of straw degradation processes (in temperature values °C) as a function of time: Odour, Smoke, Carbonisation of the bottom layer of the sample, Carbonisation of the edges of the sample, Ignition and burning. The value of the straw ignition temperature 380°C is sufficient for the initiation and development of fire.