Ignition temperature propylene

Propylene is a colorless, flammable gas with a slightly sweet aroma, bp -47.7°C, flash point -107.8°C, and ignition temperature 497.2°C. It is available in cylinders and tank cars and by pipeline. 

Benzene is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid with a pleasant characteristic odor, bp 80.1°C, flash point -11.1°C, and ignition temperature 538°C. Benzene has been found to be very toxic and is on the list of Known to Be Human Carcinogens published every two years by the Department of Health and Human Services under the National Toxicology Program (NTP). There are four top 50 chemicals on this worst carcinogen list benzene 1,3-butadiene ethylene oxide and vinyl chloride. There are also four chemicals in the top 50 on the Reasonably Anticipated to Be Human Carcinogens list acrylonitrile, ethylene dichloride, formaldehyde, and propylene oxide. 

Alkenes are the second hydrocarbon family. Alkenes have one or more double bonds between the carbons in the structure of the compound. The gases ethene (ethylene), propene (propylene), and butene (butylene) were discussed in Chapter 4. The first flammable liquid in the alkene family is pentene. Because it is an alkene, it has a double bond in the compound. Pentene has a boihng point of 86°F, a flash point of 0°F, a flammable range of 1.5 to 8.7%, and an ignition temperature of 527°F. The structure and formula for pentene is shown in Figure 5.35. 

Propylene oxide is extremely flammable. Propylene oxide-air mixtures may be explosive by contact with heat or by ignition. Propylene oxide is incompatible with acids, bases, oxidizing agents, polymerization catalysts, epoxy resins, and high temperatures. It reacts violently with acetylide-forming metals such as copper or copper alloys. 

In another accident (16a) failure of a column level controller caused cold liquid propylene to pass out of a relief valve into a flare header. The flashing liquid overchilled the header below its safe working temperature. The header cracked, releasing a vapor cloud that ignited. The accident caused several fatalities and iryuries. 

When propylene oxide clouds are ignited by spark, the cloud particles surrounding the spark are in their high temperature states, thus the surface of particles might peel, crush, and atomize, followed by evaporation and diffusion. This type of explosive seems to combust in the form of gas-phase reaction, thus the ignition process is transmitted automatically. At the beginning, combustion proceeds in a... 

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