Copper PIN synergist reduces smoke toxicity
Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) with particle size 10, 100 or 200 nm was tested in unsaturated polyester resin. The cuprous oxide shows to catalyse decomposition of oxygen -containing compounds, so reducing the toxicity of smoke and fire gases, in particular catalysing conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
Smaller particle size Cu2O shows to be more effective for this catalysis, but can thus also accelerate breakdown of the polymer and so burning, whereas larger particle size Cu2O improves fire performance by char generation. These results confirm the potential use of this metal oxide is a smoke toxicity reducing catalyst for PIN FRs.
“Effect of cuprous oxide with different sizes on thermal and combustion behaviors of unsaturated polyester resin”, Y. Hou et al., J Hazardous Materials 334 (2017) 39–48 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.03.051