Effect of Experimental Conditions On the Evolution of Combustion Products Using a Modified University of Pittsburgh Toxicity Test Apparatus

A study was performed on four materials, under several different combustion conditions, using a furnace and test parameters similar to one version of the "University of Pittsburgh Toxicity Test" procedure. Two of the materials were natural char-forming specimens, Douglas fir and cotton, and two were synthetic thermoplastics, polypropylene and polystyrene. Several different test conditions were used in an effort to determine the effect of varying the conditions from the "standard." Weight loss data, temperatures, and concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen were recorded.