The products from nonflaming combustion of wood and a trimethylol-propane-based rigid-urethane foam that was not fire-retarded produced elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels but no abnormal neurological effects. However, when this type of foam contained a reactive phosphate fire retardant, the combustion products caused grand mal seizures and death in rats. The toxic combustion product responsible for the seizures has been identified as 4-ethyl-1-phospha-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo(2.2.2.)octane-1-oxide.

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The products of pyrolysis in a helium atmosphere of a model urethane foam based on PAPI and propoxylated trimethylol propane were investigated by using GC/MS and GC/CIMS. Chemical‐ionization mass spectrometry was used because it produces primarily protonated molecular ions (M + 1) with little fragmentation which facilitated the identification of the polyol decomposition products. Identification of the polyol pyrolysis fragments has led to the formulation of a detailed polyol thermolysis mechanism. This mechanism shows the polyol to decompose by a systematic route of reactions rather than by a random breakdown.

Pyrolysis of a commercial flexible urethane foam in an inert atmosphere was investigated by use of GCMS and chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. Pyrolysis products were identified and quantified at four pyrolysis temperatures. A mechanism is discussed in terms of the identified products.

Normally one expects that flame contact is the major cause of injury and death during fires. Analysis of the factors involved in numerous fires has revealed that most deaths were not due to flame contact, but were a consequence of the production of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other combustion products, such as aldehydes, low molecular weight alcohols, hydrogen cyanide, and other noxious species. The major emphasis within the scope of this paper relates to the physiological and toxicological aspects of smoke produced during the combustion of materials. Special emphasis is directed toward laboratory procedures which have been developed to determine the qualitative and quantitative analysis of smoke, factors pertaining to smoke development, and to measure the response of laboratory animals exposed to smoke. The effects that fire retardants, incorporated into polymeric materials as a means of improving flammability characteristics, may have on smoke development, the mechanism of polymer degradation, and on the survival response of laboratory animals are also considered.ImagesFIGURE 1.FIGURE 2.FIGURE 3.FIGURE 4.FIGURE 5.FIGURE 6.FIGURE 7.FIGURE 8.FIGURE 9.