A THIRD APPRAISAL OF METHODS FOR ESTIMATING SELF-REACTION HAZARDS

A study has been made of thermal explosion theory and thermal hazard tests. From this definitions have been developed, suitable for use in a transportation context, of thermally unstable materials-package configuration is one: (1) composed of substances that can decompose or react with the evolution of heat, (2) for which a thermal mechanism of initiation of a temperature rise is present, and (3) in which a resulting rapid, large increase in the temperature of the material can occur. A thermal instability hazard exists if decomposition of the material-package configuration results in destruction of the package or neighboring objects or poses a safety threat. Typical destructions are explosion, rupture of package, and fire. The properties of the material and package needed to predict the hazard are identified and methods for their measurement, using heat conduction and adiabatic calorimetry, are analyzed.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Gaithersburg, MD  United States 

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Churney, K L
  • Garvin, D
• Publication Date: 1980-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 327 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cellulose; Chemical reactions; Decomposition; Dyes; Explosives; Freight transportation; Hazardous materials; Materials management; Nitrogen compounds; Organic compounds; Organic salts; Salts; Temperature measurement; Thermal stability
• Old TRIS Terms: Azo compounds; Cargo transportation; Nitrogen organic compounds
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00337868
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NBSIR-80-2018, DOT/RSPA/MTB-7816
• Contract Numbers: DOT-AS-40028
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 2002 12:00AM