Sources of Ignition : Flammability Characteristics of Chemicals and Products

Focusing on the different sources of ignition, in particular the flammable tendency of chemicals and products, this book discusses such topics as flash points, auto-ignition temperature and ignition energy. Sources of Ignition: Flammability Characteristics of Chemicals and Products describes the flammability characteristics of substances and deals with the different sources of ignition. Case histories are presented for review and analysis. The book is comprised of six chapters and seven appendices. The introduction gives a basic description of the anatomy of fire and explosions, including the access to fuel and the interaction of oxygen and fuel. A description of the flammable limits of gases, dusts, mists, and mixtures and the method of estimating these follow. The text also explains the flash point of a substance and the method of calculating it, using citations from Fuji and Hermann. The ignition energy of a chemical, as well as how to estimate it using the method of Calcote et al., is also presented. The book explains that autoignition temperature of gases is dependent on different factors, such as time delay, oxygen concentration, and catalyst effects of materials, but may still be estimated citing Zabetakis, 1965 as reference. The formula is given in more detail. Finally, the energy sources for ignition are enumerated as mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical. The appendices deal with chemicals, self-heating substances, organic peroxides, substances prone to spontaneous combustions, unstable substances, flammability characteristics of dusts, and a checklist of possible sources of ignition. This book is beneficial to fire safety engineers, firemen, fire prevention maintenance administrators, fire hazard officers, and other personnel whose line of work is in fire safety and prevention. Content: Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv Inside Front Cover , Page v Acknowledgements , Page vi Chapter 1 - Introduction , Pages 1-2 Chapter 2 - Flammable limits , Pages 3-6 Chapter 3 - Flash points , Pages 7-10 Chapter 4 - Ignition energy , Pages 11-19 Chapter 5 - Autoignition temperature , Pages 20-25 Chapter 6 - Sources of energy for ignition , Pages 26-68 Appendix 1 - Fire and related properties of chemicals , Pages 69,71-127 Appendix 2 - Substances liable to self-heating , Pages 128-130 Appendix 3 - Organic peroxides , Pages 131-135 Appendix 4 - Spontaneously flammable substances , Pages 136-144 Appendix 5 - Unstable substances , Pages 145-147 Appendix 6 - Flammability characteristics of dusts , Pages 148-149 Appendix 7 - Sources of ignition checklist , Pages 150-152 Index , Pages 153-156