The behaviour of commercially important di-isocyanates in fire conditions. I: Toluene di-isocyanate (TDI)

Several di-isocyanates have become commercially important materials, used as intermediates in the manufacture of a wide variety of polyurethane products, yet little is recorded on their behaviour if involved in fire. This paper describes a series of programmes carried out under the auspices of the International Isocyanate Institute Inc. First, a small scale laboratory investigation of the ignition, heat release, smoke and toxic gas production characteristics of diisocyanates was carried out. Second, their behaviour in drumstock and pool fires, respectively, was examined, using full-sized samples and selected real-fire scenarios. Part 1 records the results for toluene di- isocyanate (TDI) showing the need for a modest energy input to ignite it from a pilot flame