English edit

Etymology edit

From carbon +‎ -ific.

Adjective edit

carbonific (not comparable)

  1. (physical chemistry) Decomposing to create a greater volume of carbon than the volume of the original material
    • 1978, Anthony Joseph Papa, Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials - Volume 4[1], page 93:
      The coating contains a carbonific compound that reacts with the intumescent catalyst to form a carbon residue, and a spumific compound that decomposes to produce large quantities of gas.
    • 1979, National Research Council (U.S.). Committee of Fire Safety Aspects of Polymeric Materials, Elements of Polymer Fire Safety and Guide to the Designer[2], page 49:
      The coating contains a carbonific compound that reacts with the intumescent catalyst to form a carbon residue, and a spumific compound that decomposes to produce large quantities of gas.
    • 2000, Fire Retardant Chemicals Association (U.S.). Spring Conference, Fire Safety Developments[3], page 91:
      The carbonific components may be organic compounds containing hydroxyl groups or oxirane rings.

Noun edit

carbonific (plural carbonifics)

  1. (physical chemistry) A compound that decomposes to produce a mass of carbon with a greater volume than the original compound.
    • 1977, Norman I. Gaynes, Testing of organic coatings[4], page 244:
      The resultant acid reacts with the carbonific.
    • 1983, M. Lieff, Fire Resistive Coatings: The Need for Standards : a Symposium[5], →ISBN:
      The phosphoric acid formed by heating the phosphate reacts with the carbonific to accelerate the char formation.