COMBUSTION TOXICITY ANALYSIS: ADVANCES USING A SPECIALIZED SAMPLING TECHNIQUE FOR FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED (FTIR) ANALYSIS

  • Talandis, Jonas (Atlas Fire Science Products) ;
  • Innes, J.D. (Atlas fire Science Products) ;
  • Cox, A.W. (Flame Retardants Associates Inc.)
  • Published : 1997.11.01

Abstract

The cone calorimeter as defined by ISO 5660, ASTM 1354, and NFPA 264A is used to assess the reaction to fire of almost any material that must be evaluated in the fire science field. Typical combustion gas analyses include oxygen, CO and CO2. Oxygen consumption is used to determine rate of heat release. Analysis of combustion gases other than oxygen, CO and CO2 has been attempted using filters to remove the solid smoke particles before analysis. This method has generated unreliable results due to the adsorption of many gas components on the active carbon . particles deposited on the filters. A technique using fourier Transform Infrared (FTIB) analysis without filtration will be disclosed and a discussion will be presented of the analytical results of toxic gases produced from various flame retarded polymeric materials. Use of such data in lethal toxic potency determinations is also reviewed.

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