When a new polymer, coating or additive exists only in gram quantities, a full-scale fire test is impossible. The microscale combustion calorimeter (also called MCC or pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry) solves this by testing milligram specimens: the sample is pyrolysed under controlled heating and the volatiles are combusted completely, so heat release is measured on a specimen smaller than a fingernail. The Motis MCC-3 is built to ASTM D7309, the standard method for this technique.
How the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) works
A milligram specimen is heated at a controlled rate in an inert gas stream. The pyrolysis products are swept into a high-temperature combustor with excess oxygen, where they burn completely; oxygen consumption in the combustor gives the heat release rate of the volatiles as a function of temperature. Because combustion is forced to completion, the results reflect the chemistry of the material itself, which makes MCC data a strong predictor in early-stage material screening.
Key specifications
| Model | MCC-3 |
|---|---|
| Standard | ASTM D7309 (including the 2007 edition cited for this model) |
| Specimen size | Milligram-scale specimens, suitable for scarce or developmental materials |
| Principle | Controlled pyrolysis followed by complete combustion of volatiles; heat release from oxygen consumption |
What the test reports
- Heat release rate as a function of temperature
- Heat release capacity
- Total heat release of the specimen
- Char yield and pyrolysis behaviour indicators
Applications
Research laboratories, compounders and additive suppliers use MCC to rank candidate formulations before committing to larger tests, and to characterise materials that are only available in small quantities, such as new flame-retardant packages, coatings and aerospace materials.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
How much material do I need to send for a demonstration test?
Only milligrams per run. If you are evaluating the instrument, tell us the material family you work with and we will advise on specimen preparation for the MCC-3.
Does MCC replace cone calorimeter testing?
No. MCC is a screening and research tool. It predicts flammability trends from milligram specimens, but classification and specification work still uses the bench- and full-scale instruments named in the relevant standards.
Configuration, installation and support
Every Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for ASTM D7309. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (ASTM D7309); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.