Dust Explosions - Substances, Critical Temperatures and Concentrations
Critical temperatures and concentration parameters for substances like coal, zinc, uranium and more.
Basic rules to observe for dust to be capable of causing a dust explosion:
- The dust must be combustible
- The dust must be airborne
- The dust must have a size distribution capable of flame propagation
- The dust concentration must be within the explosive concentration range
- An ignition source with high enough temperature must be present
- The atmosphere must contain sufficient oxygen to support and sustain combustion.
Critical temperatures and concentrations:
Substance | Ignition Temperature of Dust Cloud (oC) | Minimum Explosive Concentration (oz/ft3) | Relative Explosion Hazard |
---|---|---|---|
Alfalfa | 460 | ||
Aluminum | 650 | 0.045 | Severe |
Al-Mg alloy | 0.02 | Severe | |
Cereal grass | 550 | ||
Chromium | 0.23 | Strong | |
Coal | 610 | 0.055 | Strong |
Copper | 900 | Fire | |
Corn | 400 | ||
Epoxy Resin | 530 | 0.020 | Severe |
Flax shive | 430 | ||
Grain dust, winter wheat, corn, oats | 430 | ||
Iron | 420 | 0.100 | Strong |
Magnesium | 520 | 0.020 | Severe |
Rice | 440 | ||
Silicon | 0.11 | Strong | |
Soy flour | 540 | ||
Tin | 630 | 0.190 | Moderate |
Titanium | 460 | 0.045 | Severe |
Uranium (finely divided metal dust) | 20 | 0.060 | Severe |
Wheat flour | 380 | ||
Wheat straw | 470 | ||
Zinc | 600 | 0.480 | Moderate |
- missing data not available at the moment
- 1 ft3 = 0.02832 m3= 28.32 dm3 = 0.03704 yd3 = 6.229 Imp. gal (UK) = 7.481 gal (US) = 1,728 Cu.In.
- 1 oz (ounce) = 28.35 g = 437.5 grains = 0.0625 lb = 0.0000279 long ton (UK) = 0.00003125 long ton (US) = 0.000558 long hundredweight (UK) = 0.000625 long hundredweight (US) = 0.004464 stone = 16 dram
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