Relative Toxicity of Pyrolysis Gases From Some Rigid Foams Used as Thermal Insulation

Abstract

Various samples of rigid foams used as thermal insulation were evaluated for toxicity of pyrolysis gases, using the screening test method developed at the University of San Francisco. The rigid foam samples included polyurethane, polyimide, polyisocyanurate, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. The toxicity of pyrolysis gases from polyurethane rigid foams seemed to depend on foam composition. Polystyrene rigid foam exhibited the longest time to death under these particular test conditions. The rising temperature and fixed temperature programs produced the same rank order of materials based on time to death.