Nonflammability

High-molecular-weight PPS may be used as the binder matrix to produce thermoplastic composite materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and chemically corrosive environments. PPS composite 

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Use water or other nonflammable heat transfer medium. 

Shipment, Storage, and Price. Butynediol, 35% solution, is available in tank cars, tank trailers, and dmms. Stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, glass, and various plastic and epoxy or phenoHc liners have ak been found satisfactory. Rubber hose is suitable for transferring. The solution is nonflammable and freezes at about —5°C. 

Potential health and safety problems of acryflc polymers occur in their manufacture (159). During manufacture, considerable care is exercised to reduce the potential for violent polymerizations and to reduce exposure to flammable and potentially toxic monomers and solvents. Recent environmental legislation governing air quality has resulted in completely closed ketde processes for most acryflc polymerizations. Acryflc solution polymers are treated as flammable mixtures. Dispersion polymers are nonflammable. 

Hjdrofluorocarbons andHjdrochloroJluorocarhons. The properties of HFC and HCFC propellants are given in Table 3. Propellant 22 is nonflammable and can be mixed to form nonflammable blends. Some of these propellants are scheduled for phase-out by 2015—2030. 

Compressed Ga.s PropeIIa.nts. The compressed gas propellants, so named because they are gaseous in conventional aerosol containers, are nontoxic, nonflammable, low in cost, and very inert. When used in aerosols, however, the pressure in the container drops as the contents are depleted. Although the problem is lessened when the contents are materials in which the propellant is somewhat soluble, this pressure drop may cause changes in the rate and characteristics of the aerosol spray. A compressed gas aerosol system is illustrated in Figure 3. 

Triaryl phosphates are also used on a large scale as flame-retardant hydrauhc fluids (qv), lubricants, and lubricant additives (see Lubrications and lubricants). Smaller amounts are used as nonflammable dispersing media for peroxide catalysts. 

Health and Safety Factors. Sulfur hexafluoride is a nonflammable, relatively unreactive gas that has been described as physiologically inert (54). The current OSHA standard maximum allowable concentration for human exposure in air is 6000 mg/m (1000 ppm) TWA (55). The Underwriters Laboratories classification is Toxicity Group VI. It should be noted, however, that breakdown products of SF, produced by electrical decomposition of the gas, are toxic. If SF is exposed to electrical arcing, provision should be made to absorb the toxic components by passing the gas over activated alumina, soda-lime, or molecular sieves (qv) (56). 

Uses. The chemical inertness, thermal stability, low toxicity, and nonflammability of PFCs coupled with their unusual physical properties suggest many useflil applications. However, the high cost of raw materials and manufacture has limited commercial production to a few, small-volume products. Carbon tetrafluoride and hexafluoroethane are used for plasma, ion-beam, or sputter etching of semiconductor devices (17) (see loN implantation). Hexafluoroethane and octafluoropropane have some applications as dielectric gases, and perfluorocyclobutane is used in minor amounts as a dielectric fluid. Perfluoro-1,3-dimethyl cyclohexane is used as an inert, immersion coolant for electronic equipment, and perfluoro-2-methyldecatin is used for... 

Properties. The ideal substitute should have identical or better performance properties than the CFG it replaces. The ideal CFG substitute must not harm the o2one layer, and must have a short atmospheric lifetime to ensure a low greenhouse warming potential (GWP). It also must be nontoxic, nonflammable, thermally and chemically stable under normal use conditions, and manufacturable at a reasonable pnce. The chemical industry has found substitutes that match many but not all of these cntena. 

Because PTFE resins decompose slowly, they may be heated to a high temperature. The toxicity of the pyrolysis products warrants care where exposure of personnel is likely to occur (120). Above 230°C decomposition rates become measurable (0.0001% per hour). Small amounts of toxic perfiuoroisobutylene have been isolated at 400°C and above free fluorine has never been found. Above 690°C the decomposition products bum but do not support combustion if the heat is removed. Combustion products consist primarily of carbon dioxide, carbon tetrafluoride, and small quantities of toxic and corrosive hydrogen fluoride. The PTFE resins are nonflammable and do not propagate flame. 

A combination of excellent chemical and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures results in rehable, high performance service to the chemical processing and related industries. Chemical inertness, heat resistance, toughness and flexibiUty, stress-crack resistance, excellent flex life, antistick characteristics, Htfle moisture absorption, nonflammability, and exceptional dielectric properties are among the characteristics of these resins. 

Although Hitec is nonflammable, it is a strong oxidizer and supports the combustion of other materials. Consequendy, combustible materials must be excluded from contact with the molten salt. Hitec is compatible with carbon steel at temperatures up to 450°C. At higher temperatures, low alloy or austenitic stainless steel is recommended. Adding water to Hitec does not appreciably alter its corrosion behavior. 

The narcotic potency and solubiUty in oHve oil of several metabohcaHy inert gases are Hsted in Table 10. The narcotic potency, ED q, is expressed as the partial pressure of the gas in breathing mixtures requited to produce a certain degree of anesthesia in 50% of the test animals. The solubiUties are expressed as Bunsen coefficients, the volume of atmospheric pressure gas dissolved by an equal volume of Hquid. The Hpid solubiHty of xenon is about the same as that of nitrous oxide, a commonly used light anesthetic, and its narcotic potency is also about the same. As an anesthetic, xenon has the virtues of reasonable potency, nonflammability, chemical inertness, and easy elimination by the body, but its scarcity and great cost preclude its wide use for this purpose (see Anesthetics). 

HalogenatedFluids. Chlorocarbons, fluorocarbons, or combinations of the two are used to form lubricating fluids (see Chlorocarbons and CHLOROHYDROCARBONS Fluorine COMPOUNDS, ORGANIC). Generally, these fluids are chemically inert, essentially nonflammable, and often show excellent resistance to solvents. Some have outstanding thermal and oxidation stability, because they are completely unreactive even in Hquid oxygen, and extremely low volatility. 

At 20°C urdess otherwise indicated by superscript, °C. nf = nonflammable f = flammable. 

Health and Safety. Remover formulas that are nonflammable may be used in any area that provides adequate ventilation. Most manufacturers recommend a use environment of 50—100 parts per million (ppm) time weighted average (TWA). The environment can be monitored with passive detection badges or by active air sampling and charcoal absorption tube analysis. The vapor of methylene chloride produces hydrogen chloride and phosgene gas when burned. Methylene chloride-type removers should not be used in the presence of an open flame or other heat sources such as kerosene heaters (8). 

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