Agglomerated Soot from a House Fire
This type of particle is typical of uncontrolled
combustion. It is a collection of condensed hydrocarbons and soot
particles. These particles are very "sticky" and so don't travel very far from the
fire. They tend to stick to the first surface they contact.
This particle was collected on a tapelift taken on the second floor of a home that
had a fire in the basement. This was carried upstairs by the
chimney effect through the stairwells.
Transmitted Off Crossed Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Fires with insufficient oxygen where the plume tends to cool rapidly and where the fuel
contains ample volatile condensable materials create large
particles of agglomerated soot held together by the condensed tars from the fuel. These
particles are typical of fires creating very dense, black
smoke. The particles are "sticky", have a high sticking coefficient, due to the tars
present in the matrix. They tend to be created predominantly
by fires in confined spaces, such as building. They become a marker for the direct path
of the plume close to the fire.
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
