Inhalation Toxicology: VI. Evaluation of the Relative Toxicity of Thermal Decomposition Products from Nine Aircraft Panel Materials

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute1986PDFTech ReportCrane, C.R.Sanders, D.C.Endecott, B.R.Abbott, J.K.Civil Aeromedical InstituteUnited States. Office of Aviation MedicineCivil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited StatesAir transportation crashesAircraft cabinsFireHeat fluxPoisonous gasesFlammable materialsToxicityPyrolysisSmokeLaboratory animalsRatsLaboratory testsAircraft accidentsAircraft cabinsFiresHeat fluxGases, Asphyxiating and poisonous--ToxicologyFlammable materialsPyrolysisRats as laboratory animalsDOT/FAA/AM-86/3The purpose of this study was to determine the relative toxicity of the combustion products from a nine aircraft cabin panels, representing both composite and homogeneous construction, that were being tested concurrently for flammability and smoke production at the FAA Technical Center. We designed and constructed a combustion/exposure assembly in which panel sections were pyrolyzed by radiant head directed on the upper surface only; the relative toxicity of the evolved gases was measured by determination the defect (time-to-incapacitation) on the laboratory rat.We also determine the relative toxicity of gases from the same nine panels when pyrolyzed in the older (and smaller) combustion tube assembly in order to compare the effects of the different pyrolysis modes. Keywords: Time-to death; Heat flux level; Epoxy/Fiberglass Honeycomb; Phenolic/Fiberglas Honeycomb; Epoxy/Kevlar-Honeycomb; Phenolic/Kevlar Honeycomb; Phenolic/Graphite Honeycomb; Polyether-ether-ketone/Polyimide/Fiberglas Honeycomb; Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/Polyvinylchloride; Polycarbonate Thermoplastic Sheet; and Polyetherimide Thermoplastic Sheet.119