Bayerteq Oxygen Index Tester – ISO 4589 & ASTM D2863 Flammability Tester
- Precision Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) flammability testing apparatus for plastics, polymers, cables, and textiles
- Full testing compliance with ISO 4589-2, ISO 4589-3, ASTM D2863, and NES 714
- Measures minimum oxygen concentration supporting candle-like combustion in controlled O&sub2;/N&sub2; mixtures
- Ambient and elevated temperature testing capabilities up to 150 °C (Temperature Index according to ISO 4589-3)
- High-precision oxygen concentration measurement range of 0 to 100% with ±0.1% accuracy
- Heavy-duty heat-resistant transparent quartz/borosilicate chimney with standardized gas mixing base
- Digital touchscreen display with real-time gas flow control, automatic O&sub2; calculation, and portable igniter
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The oxygen index tester manufactured by Bayerteq is a high-precision flammability and fire-behavior testing instrument engineered to determine the Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) of solid polymers, plastics, cellular materials, electrical wire insulation, and textiles. Built in strict accordance with ISO 4589 standards (ISO 4589-2 for ambient-temperature testing and ISO 4589-3 for elevated-temperature testing) as well as ASTM D2863, this apparatus delivers indispensable fire safety qualification for material compounding, research, and regulatory certification.
The oxygen index (OI) represents the minimum volume percentage of oxygen in a flowing oxygen-nitrogen mixture that sustains candle-like downward flaming combustion of a vertically positioned specimen. Materials exhibiting an oxygen index below 21% burn readily in ambient atmospheric air, whereas materials with an OI exceeding 28% are classified as self-extinguishing flame-retardant polymers. The Bayerteq oxygen index tester provides exact gas blending and continuous oxygen measurement to identify critical combustion thresholds with exceptional repeatability.
Oxygen Index Tester Instrumentation & Combustion Column
The Bayerteq testing apparatus integrates high-grade gas control technology with heavy-duty thermal construction:
- High-Resolution Oxygen Sensing: Utilizes an advanced paramagnetic or electrochemical oxygen sensor offering a measurement range of 0% to 100% O&sub2; with measurement repeatability within ±0.1%, eliminating calibration drift during extended testing routines.
- Precision Gas Metering & Flow Control: Equipped with dual high-accuracy mass flow meters / dual rotameters providing linear flow regulation of oxygen and nitrogen streams, ensuring uniform upward gas column velocity of 40 mm/s ± 2 mm/s through the chimney.
- High-Temperature Quartz Chimney: Features a robust transparent borosilicate/quartz combustion tube with internal diffuser beads and mesh at the base to ensure laminar, turbulence-free gas blending before reaching the ignition zone.
- Elevated Temperature Testing (ISO 4589-3): Supports Temperature Index (TI) evaluation across an elevated thermal envelope from 25 °C to 150 °C, simulating thermal stress encountered by polymers operating in overheated enclosures.
- Versatile Specimen Clamping: Supplied with interchangeable specimen holders accommodating self-supporting rigid bars and sheets up to 10.5 mm thickness, as well as specialized vertical wire and flexible film suspension frames.
Featuring a digital touch terminal that displays live oxygen percentage, flow rates, and elapsed burn timers, this oxygen index tester streamlines flammability evaluation for global compliance.
Bayerteq Oxygen Index Tester – Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Applicable Standards | ISO 4589-2:2017, ISO 4589-3:2017, ASTM D2863, NES 714, BS 2782-1, GB/T 2406 |
| Oxygen Concentration Range | 0% to 100% O&sub2; |
| Sensor Accuracy & Resolution | Accuracy: ±0.1% O&sub2; | Digital display resolution: 0.1% |
| Elevated Testing Temperature (ISO 4589-3) | Ambient to 150 °C (Temperature Index test capability) |
| Chimney Gas Flow Velocity | 40 mm/s ± 2 mm/s (Standard vertical laminar velocity) |
| Combustion Chimney Dimensions | High-temperature quartz / borosilicate tube (Internal Ø75–100 mm, height 450–500 mm) |
| Gas Supply Requirements | Commercial grade Oxygen (O&sub2;) ≥98% purity; Nitrogen (N&sub2;) ≥98% purity (Pressure: 0.25 – 0.4 MPa) |
| Gas Mixing System | Precision dual gas mixing chamber with glass diffuser beads and metal dispersion grid |
| Specimen Holding Capacities | Rigid self-supporting specimens up to 10.5 mm thickness; flexible films and sheet clamping frame |
| Ignition Source | Portable propane / butane tube flame igniter with adjustable flame height (16 ± 4 mm) |
| Burn Timing Instrumentation | Integrated digital chronometer / stopwatch with 0.1-second resolution |
| Electrical Power Supply | 220 V AC ± 10%, 50/60 Hz |
Key Engineering Advantages of Bayerteq Oxygen Index Tester
Paramagnetic ±0.1% O&sub2; Accuracy
Advanced optical oxygen sensing provides rapid response times and high stability without routine electrochemical replenishment.
Elevated Temperature Testing
Fully compliant with ISO 4589-3, supporting heated chimney gas streams up to 150 °C for realistic overheated service simulation.
Laminar Gas Column Chamber
Base dispersion beads and porous metal diffusers guarantee true laminar upward gas flow at standardized 40 mm/s velocity.
Dual Universal Specimen Grips
Supplied with self-centering clamps for rigid polymer bars as well as tension frames for ultra-thin films and flexible membranes.
Digital Gas Ratio Monitoring
Clear digital display directly computes and displays live oxygen volume fraction and elapsed flame endurance times.
Thermal-Resistant Quartz Column
Heat-shock resistant quartz glass column ensures high visibility and safety during intense sustained polymer combustion.
Instrument Packages & Accessories
| Component / Module | Standard Inclusions & Options |
|---|---|
| Base Mainframe | Benchtop chassis with integrated oxygen sensor, dual gas flow controllers, and digital controller display. |
| Combustion Chimney | Heavy-duty quartz glass chimney tube with gas diffuser base and steel retaining rings. |
| Specimen Clamps | 1x Self-supporting rigid clamp (up to 10.5 mm) and 1x flexible film/sheet supporting frame. |
| Ignition Wand | Calibrated tube flame igniter with precision needle valve and flexible gas tubing. |
| Elevated Temp Module (ISO 4589-3) | Integrated column gas preheater with thermocouple feedback for thermal index testing up to 150 °C. |
| Gas Connection Kit | Pressure regulators, dual-stage inline particulate filters, and high-pressure hose connectors for O&sub2; and N&sub2; cylinders. |
Flammability Testing Standards & Materials
| Standard / Test Scope | Protocol & Flammability Benchmark |
|---|---|
| ISO 4589-2:2017 | Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index — Part 2: Ambient-temperature test for vertical specimens up to 10.5 mm thickness. |
| ISO 4589-3:2017 | Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index — Part 3: Elevated-temperature test (25 °C to 150 °C) for Temperature Index (TI) values. |
| ASTM D2863 | Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index). |
| NES 714 & BS 2782 | Naval engineering and defense standard oxygen index flammability evaluation for naval cable sheathing, coatings, and composite panels. |
| Target Material Classes | Thermoplastics, thermosets, flame-retardant polymers, PVC pipe compounds, cable jackets, cellular foams (≥100 kg/m³), and technical fabrics. |