Can Pellistors be poisoned?
Pellistors can be poisoned if the gas or vapour reacts with the catalyst causing the sensor to permanently lose its response to gas. Typical poisons are organic silicon compounds (i.e. silicones), organo-metallic compounds and organic phosphate esters.
Other compounds such as halogenated hydrocarbons and Sulfur containing compounds can cause a reversible loss in response which may recover on providing the sensor with a clean environment.