Toxicity of Thermal Decomposition Products from Composites

Composite materials and a type of wood (pecan) were tested for the toxicity of their smoke when thermally decomposed. No major problem was en countered in testing composite materials. Because of the chemical variety of composite materials, a wider range of principal toxicants than when testing single polymers may be expected, however, this was not found. This report con firms an earlier report that composites can be tested for the acute lethality of the smoke they produce as easily as single polymers have been tested.