Ammonium Nitrate Explosions, Fires and Hazards

Texas City Disaster. See under Ammonium Nitrate Explosions, Fires and Hazards in Vol 1, A359-L to A362-L... 

Ammonium Nitrate Dynamite (AND) (American and European Types) A355 to A356 Ammonium Nitrate Explosions, Fires and Hazards A357 to A363 Ammonium Nitrate Explosives of Spencer Chemical Co A354 (table)... 

R.W. Van Dolah et al, "Explosion Hazards of Ammonium Nitrate under Fire Exposure , USBurMinesReptInvest No 6773, 79pp(1966) CA 65, 564(1966) [The conditions under which AN and its systems may explode when subjected to intense fire exposure (never previously defined) were investigated at the US-BurMines. The intrinsic sensitivity was studied by card-gap techniques. Fertilizer-grade AN was detonated, but at RT very large chges and strong expl donors were required. Prills coated... 

Safety Considerations. Ammonium nitrate can be considered a safe material if treated and handled properly. Potential hazards include those associated with fire, decomposition accompanied by generation of toxic fumes, and explosion. 

For civilian aircraft the facility for rapid starting is not important and cartridge operation is not often employed, particularly because it involves storing and handling explosives, even though the hazards of these explosives are those of fire and not of detonation. For military purposes, however, particularly for fighter aircraft which are best scattered on an airfield, a rapid start is of considerable importance. Therefore cartridge operated starters are much used for these aeroplanes. In Britain, development has been essentially with propellants based on ballistite, namely double base propellants of the solventless type, whereas in the United States composite propellants based on ammonium nitrate have proved more popular. 

Texas, Disaster, Fire Prevention Engrg Bur of Texas, Dallas, Tex The Natl Board of Fire Underwriters, New York(l947) 55 G.Armistead,Jr, "The Ship Explosions at Texas City, Texas, on April 16 and 17, 1947 and their Results", Washington, DC 56)Anon, "The Texas City Disaster , Natl Fire Protection Assoc Quarterly, 41, No 1, July 1947, 25-57 57)Anon, US Coast Guard, "Rept of Interagency Comm on Hazards of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer in Transportation on Board Vessels", Part 1(1947)... 

It is therefore a high explosive, although very insensidve to impact and difficult to detonate. In the pure state, it requires a combinadon of an inidator and a high explosive. It is a reladvely safe high explosive, which, however, must be stored in a cool, ventilated place away from acute fire hazards and easily oxidized materials. Ammonium nitrate must not be confined because, if a fire should start, confinement can cause detonadon with extremely violent results. 

SAFETY PROFILE Poison by intraperitoneal route. Moderately toxic by ingestion. Mutation data reported. A very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat, flame, or by chemical reaction with oxidizers. A severe explosion hazard when shocked or exposed to heat or flame. It is about as powerful as TNT. It is normally mixed with coUoided nitrocellulose or ammonium nitrate and paraffin wax. Can react vigorously with oxidizing materials and the derivatives can be explosive. The mercury and silver salts and other derivatives are much more impact-sensitive. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of NOx. See also NITRO COMPOUNDS. 

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