Autoignitable dust

Hazard, i.e. the potential of the material to cause injury under certain conditions (flammability, explosion limits in air, ignition and autoignition temperatures, static electricity (explosions have occurred during drying due to static electricity), dust explosion, boiling point, fire protection (specification of extinguishers, compounds formed when firing), R S (nature of special risk and safety precautions). Table 5.2-5 lists hazards associated with typical chemical reactions. 

See Other DUST EXPLOSION INCIDENTS, AUTOIGNITION INCIDENTS... 

A comprehensive review includes autoignition of gas mixtures, explosions at low and high temperatures, properties of flames and combustion of metals [1]. A review of explosion suppression techniques for dust, mist or vapour deflagrations, as an alternative to venting industrial plant [2],... 

Salts of O-alkyldithiocarbonatcs ( xanthates ) are hazardous as dusts, forming explosive suspensions in air. The lower-alkyl salts are claimed to be explosive in the solid state when dry [1]. Explosions reported when drying hydrated xanthate salts are probably the consequence of release of carbon disulphide to form an inflammable atmosphere of very low autoignition temperature in the oven [2], Xanthate esters are thermally unstable by a variety of eliminations and rearrangements, all distinctly exothermic and many evolving extremely flammable gases and vapours. Free xanthic acids, which may be isolated on acidification, decompose autocatalytically and perhaps explosively [3],... 

Wet Zn has a tendency to autoignition. Zn dust, when present in a pile, is difficult to ignite and never bums with an open flame. After wetting the dust with 10% NaOH, it will oxidize readily in air... 

Flammability tests evaluate the hazard present when an ignition source is available. These tests range from the determination of flash point, flammable limits and autoignition to the very rapid and destructive burning in a dust explosion. 

The autoignition temperature (AIT) or tlte maximum spontaneous ignition temperature is defined as the maximum temperature at which combustion occurs in a combustible bulk gas mixture when tlie temperature of a flammable gas-air mixture is raised in a uniformly heated apparatus. The AIT represents a tlircshold below which chemicals and combustibles can be handled s ely. (The AlTs of selected substances arc available in the literature. ) The AIT is strongly independent on tlie nature of hot surfaces. The AIT may be reduced by as mudi as 100-200°C when the surfaces arc contaminated by dust. When tlie temperature of a flanuiiable mi.xturc is raised to or above the autoignition temperature, ignition is not spontaneous. Most notably in liquids, there is a finite delay before ignition lakes place, i.e., a lapse between the time tlicrc is a flammable mixture reaches its flame temperature and tlie first appearance of a flame. An equation tliat correlates with the ignition temperature is also available in the literature. ... 

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