Abstract
Rigid polyurethane foam when heated to 80°C in high purity nitrogen or zero air emits a complicated mixture of decomposition products. The mixture was analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization, thermoionic specific, electron capture and mass selective detection. Samples were collected on Tenax TA adsorbers and thermally desorbed for analysis. The peak identification was based on mass spectrometric analysis and on comparison of FID, TSD and ECD responses. Over 20 compounds were identified tentatively as off-gases. Their emission rates were significantly higher in zero air atmospheres than in nitrogen atmosphere.