Results of Self-accelerating Decomposition
When thermal decomposition occurs some organic peroxide formulations release a considerable amount of gases and/or mists. Some, but not all, of these gases may be flammable. For example, carbon dioxide is a common, gaseous decomposition product for diacyl peroxides and peresters that is not flammable.
The decomposition may include small organic fragments such as methane or acetone which are flammable. When flammable gases or mists are released as part of the decomposition there is always the potential danger of a fire or vapor phase explosion. Therefore the risk of vapor phase explosion should be kept in mind when designing storage structures. These types of materials may be released at low rates during storage and in quite high rates in the event of an upset due to failure to control storage temperature or in the event of a fire in the storage area.
It is the ease of splitting the peroxy group to give two free radicals that makes organic peroxides so useful. However, the presence of energetic free radicals during decomposition, particularly in hot gases or mists, can cause auto-ignition to occur at a lower temperature than would otherwise be normal for a similar chemical structure without the peroxy functional group. Organic peroxides do not generally release oxygen as part of the decomposition so there is little risk of enhanced burning rates due to oxygen enrichment. This is unlike the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and solid oxidizers that can liberate oxygen.
Read more about this topic: Self Accelerating Decomposition Temperature
Famous quotes containing the words results of and/or results:
“I have no doubt that it was a principle they fought for, as much as our ancestors, and not to avoid a three-penny tax on their tea; and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those whom it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill, at least.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Nothing is as difficult as to achieve results in this world if one is filled full of great tolerance and the milk of human kindness. The person who achieves must generally be a one-ideaed individual, concentrated entirely on that one idea, and ruthless in his aspect toward other men and other ideas.”
—Corinne Roosevelt Robinson (1861–1933)