The Smoke Hazards Resulting from the Burning of Shipboard Materials Used by the U.S. Navy. Part 2.
Abstract
Physical and chemical properties of smoke particulates generated during combustion were determined for a polyphosphazene foam being considered for use as a thermal and acoustic insulation material in submarines. Study results indicate that during nonflaming combustion this polyphosphazene foam produces smoke particles with a log-normal size distribution and a mean diameter of approx. 0.45 microns; during flaming combustion, it produced black smoke consisting of nonspherical soot aggregates with a mean particle diameter between 0.9 and 1.2 microns. The greatest light obscuration was obtained under nonflaming combustion at a radiant flux of 7.5 W/cm sq. Results indicate that loss of visibility due to smoke formation during combustion of this form is considerably less than that obtained with PVC-nitrile rubber insulation. Chemical analysis of the smoke particulates generated during nonflaming combustion indicated the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons, oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic nitriles, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbone, and oxygenated aromatic compounds. Organophosphorus compounds were not detected. The expected level of hydrogen cyanide is well below the amount likely to produce acute toxic hazard to personnel exposed to gases in a fire.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA174195
Entities
People
- B. T. Zinn
- E. A. Powell
- Frederic W. Williams
- R. F. Browner
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory