Ashed Composite Shingle from a House Fire

Transmitted Off Crossed Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination

Definition/Function:

Composite shingles are tar, mineral filler, and clay filler with cellulose and often glass fiber. When these shingles burn in a house fire some of the tar is lost as high hydrocarbon content soot agglomerates and some chars around the filler minerals. If the heat is sustained long enough the material is ash leaving only the inert minerals behind.

Significance in the Environment:

Residue from burning composite shingles includes high hydrocarbon content soot agglomerates, carbon coated filler minerals, agglomerates containing mineral fillers and often fiber fragments in a char matrix, and agglomerates of the filler minerals in a char matrix. If the shingle is ashed completely then the high clay content is obvious in the white ash residue.

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