Explosives copper acetylide

Thus, all copper salts give an explosive reaction with calcium carbide. This is due to the formation of explosive copper acetylide, which is formed from cupric or cuprous cation and the acetylene formed. 

Aqueous solutions of copper acetylenedicarboxylates decompose thermally to precipitate explosive copper acetylides. Presumably other elements readily forming explosive acetylides might do likewise. 

Zamudio, W. et al Bol. Soc. Chil. Quim., 1994, 39(4), 339 Aqueous solutions of copper acetylenedicarboxylates decompose thermally to precipitate explosive copper acetylides. Presumably other elements readily forming explosive acetylides might do likewise. 

Note I—The use of copper tubing is not recommended with samples containing acetylene as this could lead to the formation of potentially explosive copper acetylide. 

Propargyl bromide forms explosive metal acetylides when copper or its alloys, silver or mercury are present. 

Silver acetylide is a more powerful detonator than the copper derivative, but both will initiate explosive acetylene-containing gas mixtures [1]. It decomposes violently when heated to 120-140°C [2], Formation of a deposit of this explosive material was observed when silver-containing solutions were aspirated into an acetylene-fuelled atomic absorption spectrometer. Precautions to prevent formation are discussed [3], The effect of ageing for 16 months on the explosive properties of silver and copper acetylides has been studied. Both retain their hazardous properties for many months, and the former is the more effective in initiating acetylene explosions [4],... 

Addition of calcium acetylide to silver nitrate solution precipitates silver acetylide, a highly sensitive explosive. Copper salt solutions would behave similarly. 

Rubber-covered electric cable, used as a makeshift handle in the effluent pit of an acetylene plant, formed copper acetylide with residual acetylene and the former detonated when disturbed and initiated explosion of the latter. All heavy metals must be rigorously excluded from locations where acetylene may be present. 

After preparation from interaction of 3-bromopropyne with copper(I) cyanide and filtration from copper salts, an explosion occurred dining distillation of the evaporated filtrate at 45-60°C/66 mbar. This was attributed to explosion of some dissolved copper acetylide(s). After refiltration the product was again distilled at 45-48°C/53 mbar without incident, and it appeared to be stable, unlike true haloalkynes. However it is undoubtedly an endothemic compound with its two triple bonds. 

Acetylenic compounds with replaceable acetylenically bound hydrogen atoms must be kept out of contact with copper, silver, magnesium, mercury or alloys containing them, to avoid formation of explosive metal acetylides. 

Previous literature on formation of various types of copper acetylides is discussed and the mechanism of their formation is examined, with experimental detail. Whenever a copper or copper-rich alloy is likely to come into contact with atmospheres containing [1] ammonia, water vapour and acetylene, or [2] lime-sludge, water vapour and acetylene, or a combination of these two, there is the probability of acetylide formation and danger of explosion. The action is aided by the presence... 

Catalytic forms of copper, mercury and silver acetylides, supported on alumina, carbon or silica and used for polymerisation of alkanes, are relatively stable [3], In contact with acetylene, silver and mercury salts will also give explosive acetylides, the mercury derivatives being complex [4], Many of the metal acetylides react violently with oxidants. Impact sensitivities of the dry copper derivatives of acetylene, buten-3-yne and l,3-hexadien-5-yne were determined as 2.4, 2.4 and 4.0 kg m, respectively. The copper derivative of a polyacetylene mixture generated by low-temperature polymerisation of acetylene detonated under 1.2 kg m impact. Sensitivities were much lower for the moist compounds [5], Explosive copper and silver derivatives give non-explosive complexes with trimethyl-, tributyl- or triphenyl-phosphine [6], Formation of silver acetylide on silver-containing solders needs higher acetylene and ammonia concentrations than for formation of copper acetylide. Acetylides are always formed on brass and copper or on silver-containing solders in an atmosphere of acetylene derived from calcium carbide (and which contains traces of phosphine). Silver acetylide is a more efficient explosion initiator than copper acetylide [7],... 

The reaction was of limited use due to the explosive nature of copper acetylides. 

Copper(II) acetylide (black or brown) is much more sensitive to impact, friction or heat than copper(I) acetylide (red-brown) which is used in electric fuses or detonators [1]. An explosion during maintenance work on a copper condenser in a methanol plant was attributed to copper acetylide deposits in the heat exchanger [2]. During internal inspection of an air-purged 15 year old 330 m3 liquefied gas cylinder, it was noticed that there was a 2—3 cm layer of mst-like deposit at the bottom. As the inspection... 

Contact with silver nitrate solution transforms copper acetylide into a sensitive and explosive mixture of silver acetylide and silver. 

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