Characterisation of smoke in expanded polystyrene combustion

The smoke formed in the cone calorimeter during the combustion of expanded polystyrene with and without fire retardant has been analysed. Gaseous prod ucts were condensed from the smoke and identified by GC-MS. The liquid comp onents adsorbed on solid particles of the smoke were examined by microscopy -FTIR. The solid charred particles were characterised by SEM and X-ray micr oanalysis. It has been shown that pyrolysis dominates over thermal oxidatio n during combustion. The charred particles are essentially composed of carb on rich structures with negligible oxidation having occurred. The tire reta rdant somewhat modifies the characteristics of the combustion of expanded p olystyrene and the composition of the smoke. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.