Determination of carbon monoxide in thermal degradation products of polymeric materials

Abstract

Gas Chromatography using a column WW a molecular sieve was applied to the determination of carbon monoxide in thermal degradation products of polymeric materials. Attention was paid to the variance of individual determinations and condusions were d r a m regarding reprodua%ility of the processes studied. The carbon monoxide content in pyrolysis and thennooxidation products of the commonest polymeric materials and the effect of temperature on the amount of carbon monoxide formed were determined.

A literature review of the chemical nature and toxicity of the decomposition products of polythylenes

“…(Michal, who specifically set out to measure the CO produced during the pyrolysis and thermooxidation of polymeric materials, detected no CO when a high-pressure type polyethylene was decomposed in helium at 500°C [12].) The where m + m' = n.…”

“…The toxicity of the degradation products or polyethylenes appears to be similar to that found for other common materials designed for the same end uses. 12. KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by semicolon Combustion products, literature reviews, polyethylenes, thermal decomposition, toxicity.…”

A review of the literature on the gaseous products and toxicity generated from the pyrolysis and combustion of rigid polyurethane foams

“…Michal [18] evaluated the generation of CO from a number of polymeric materials, including rigid polyurethane foam, under different oxygen (O 2 ) concentrations in order to simulate real-fire conditions in which the O 2 concentration in the atmosphere can vary widely. Using GC, he determined the amount of CO generated from rigid polyurethane foam decomposed in the flaming mode under limited O 2 conditions in a combustion chamber (CAB 4.2) set at temperatures between 500 and 800 **C. The CO concentration varied from 121 to 154 mg/g with an average of 141 mg/g.…”

“…Toxicological effects on rats exposed to combustion products from polyurethane foams evaluated according to the DIN toxicity test method 94 Table 17. Toxicological effects on mice exposed to combustion products from rigid polyurethane foam 95 Table 18. Mean time to collapse after exposure of mice to the thermal decomposition products from a rigid polyurethane heated at 850®C 96 Table 24.…”

Chemical Hazards Associated with the Handling of Urethanes: A Literature Search

“…M Michal [20] evaluated the generation of CO from a number of rigid urethane foam materials under different oxygen concentrations in order to simulate real fire conditions in which the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere can vary widely. Michal concluded that, *the CO content in the combustion products of the rigid urethanes studied was shown to increase with increasing temperature."…”