Thermal Decomposition Products of Fiberglass Composites: A Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis

Decomposition products of fiberglass composites used in construc tion were identified using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. This bench-scale study concentrated on identification and quantification of toxic species. Identifying compounds evolved during thermal decomposition provides data to develop early fire detection systems as well as evaluate product fire safety performance. Material fire behavior depends on many factors. Ventila tion, radiant heat flux, and chemical composition are three factors that can be modeled. Physical observations of composites during thermal decomposition with simultaneous identification and quantification of evolved gases offer re searchers in both material development and fire safety an advancement in the state-of-the-art for material testing. Gas analysis by FT-IR spectroscopy iden tified toxic effluent species over a wide range of composite exposure tempera tures (100 to 1000 ° C), during pyrolysis and combustion. Fiberglass composites with melamine, epoxy, and silicone resins were profiled. Formaldehyde, meth anol, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, methane, and benzene were identified by the spectral analysis prior to physical evidence of decomposition. Toxic concen trations of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, and hydro gen cyanide were observed as thermal decomposition progressed.