Glass Fiber From Thermal Blanket Insulation Exposed to Fire
This insulation is from an intense fire of an apartment
building. The phenolic resin that had bonded the fibers into a
loose mat were now charred black. Phenolic resin is a thermoset resin and chars
rather than melting. This particle is from an environmental tapelift
collected in a neighboring building.
Transmitted Off Cross Polarized Light Illumination
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Characteristic Features:
The smaller quantity of phenolic resin used to hold thermal blanket insultion together
is distributed
more easily when it has a low viscosity. Mineral fillers would interfer with that
distribution. As
a result, the resin is clear with few inclusion. The total amount of resin on the fibers
is also lower
than in the case of acoustic ceiling tiles or ventilation system soundboard, whose resin
systems contain
mineral fillers.
Associated Particles:
References: