Study of the toxicity of combustion products of polymer materials using chromatomass spectrometry

Introduction. Carrying out studies of the toxicity of combustion products (H_CL50) of polymer materials: epoxy glue grade EK-5T and compound ELPLAST-180ID according to GOST with the additional use of gas chromatography with mass selective detection.

Objective. Experimental study of the toxicity of combustion products (H_CL50) of polymer materials in various modes of thermal oxidative degradation: epoxy glue grade EK-5T and compound ELPLAST-180ID, as well as a survey mass spectrometric analysis of products of thermal oxidative degradation.

Material and methods. The studies were carried out in accordance with GOST 12.1.044-89. Equipment: “Toxicity” unit, “Infracar M2.01” gas analyzer, Focus GC chromato-mass-spectrometric instrumental complex with DSQ II mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, USA), Nova Medical Stat Profile automatic analyzer of blood gases, electrolytes and oximetry Model CCX (USA). Blood sampling was carried out in capillaries “Stat Profile Critical Care Express Capillary Tube 230 µL with Na Heparin” LOT 107669, СО₂ chamber.

Results. In the course of studying the products of outgassing of polymer materials using an exposure chamber and a gas chromatomass spectrometer, a significant increase in toxicity (4.8 times) of a mixture of chemicals released from epoxy glue EK-5T during the transition from thermal-oxidative decomposition (smoldering) to flame combustion was established. The toxicity index of the combustion products of the ELPLAST-180ID compound under the same conditions increases by 1.8 times. A linear dependence of the percentage of lethality of laboratory animals on the integral indicator of the toxicity of combustion products has been established.

Limitations. Studies of the toxicity of combustion products were carried out on non-metallic materials: epoxy glue EK-5T, compound ELPLAST-180ID. These materials are planned to be used in hermetically sealed objects of the Navy.

Conclusion. The expediency of using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for assessing the combined effect of combustion products is shown.

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