Document 2jD36x1daeMdO625bmZxD9d5a

9A.A4 BAKEL1TE DIVISION UNION CARSICK AND CARBON CORPORATION DECEIVED SAY 19 1S5Q INO. TOXICOLOGY DEPT. Ur. IT. e. Roisel-1901 ^--^Dr. T. W. .Hale-203-300 Madison Ur. 0. 0* Miller-1101 Ur. J. Ju price-1101 May 2$, 1P9J Lu Mr. Leopold A. Halperin 1(20 Lexington Avenue Raw Tork, H. X. Lear Ur. Halperint In accordance with your recent request we are writing you to discuss the behavior of "Vinylite" plastic sheeting in ease of fixe. The particular sheeting used by plastic Innovations, Inc. is .012 inches thick and is composed essentially of a vinyl ohlorlde-acetate copolymer resin and a plasticiser which Is added to impart flexibility* Such Sheeting in this thickness is difficult to Ignite, fhen once ignited it is slow burning and usually stops burning just as soon as the source of ignition originating r perpetuating a fire is removed. We have attempted to ignite, with a cigarette lighter, an inflated toy manufactured by Plastic Innovations and designated "Cep*, we found that it was difficult to do so. A small area directly in contact with the flame of the lighter burned but ceased burning just as soon as the flame from the lighter was removed. This is in accordance with our own and our customers' experience with sheetings of this type. We have manufactured and sold maiy millions of poinds of these general types of materials without any Instance having been brought to our attention that they contributed either to the magnitude or to the haaard of a fire. There are various hazards to health or life involved in the eaee f any fire of any magnitude. These Include! 1) Linger from burning due to fleae or heat - Zt ia apparent that any material suoh at "Vinylite* sheeting which ignites with difficulty is leas hazardous than more readily Ignited materials suoh aa textiles, paper, etc. sspeoiaUy with respeet to initiating a fire. 2) Langer from asphyxiation due to the lack ef aa adequate ecncen- /. tyetion of oxygen being pro lent end cauaed both by the boning meter!ala thesesIves WomeuBiing oxygen and by the dilution of the oxygen present with gmgh decomposition products aa carbon dioxide - The disappearanoe of oxygen mi the formation of Carbon dioxide are aeeoeieted with the combustion of any organle materials such as cotton, wool, paper, wood, plasties, ate. y- 3) Sanger f*en earbon menextde In the pretense ef Insufficient amounts ef air, mm ef the carbon present in organic compounds tan yield earbon monoxide rather than inart earbon dioxida. Other highly texle gases can be ucc 063493 B*.-44 bakelite division UNION Bay 25, 1950 liberated from wool end other materials containing nitrogen* ^ The "Vinylite" Ateting contains no nitrogen* The amount of carbon monoxide prodnced by relatively email quantities of any organic material including toy* made from *Tlsylite" sheeting would be eo small as to constitute no batard* It) Danger from smoke and other decomposition products In case of fire varioua decomposition products are formed by the partial oonbustion of all organic materials* Kany of these are irritating to the body membranes* Yhen the "Vinylits" sheeting is decomposed by flame or heat from another source some vapors are liberated. These are acidic in nature and can be irritating to body membranes if present in sufficient concentration* Smoke from burning paper* cotton or wood can have substantially the same physiological effect. In view of the fact that there is lees than an ounce of vinyl chloride-acetate resin In an Inflatable toy "Cop", the quantity of all decomposition products evolved from this amount of material would be very small, and insignificant If a greater weight of other materials such ss bed linen, blanlosts, etc. were burning concurrently. The information which we have on the accident which prompted y ur inquiry Is very meagre. Should it develop that you obtain more information, we would be very glad to receive it. Tours very truly. HFRoberteonti Manager of Development Thermoplastics Department ucc 063494