- Author
-
Levin, B. C.
- Title
- Copper Additives Reduce HNC and Decreases the Toxicity of Flexible Polyurethane Foam Combustion Products. CFR Video Seminar.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
Video
June 26, 1990
- Keywords
-
copper
|
additives
|
toxicity
|
polyurethane foams
|
combustion products
|
flexible foams
|
hydrogen cyanide
|
thermal decomposition
|
inhalation toxicity
- Abstract
- Two gases of major concern in fire deaths are carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which produce their toxic effects additively. Reducing the amount of HCN produced from the thermal decomposition of nitrogen-containing materials should decrease the toxicity of the combustion products. We have found that the addition of small amounts (as little as 0.1% by weight) of copper or copper compounds to flexible polyurethane foam does significantly reduce the combustion-generated HCN and the acute inhalation toxicity of the combustion products.