title: Potential Explosion Hazard of Carbonaceous Nanoparticles: Screening of Allotropes.
abstract: There is a concern that engineered carbon nanoparticles, when manufactured on an industrial scale, will pose an explosion hazard. Explosion testing has been performed on 20 codes of carbonaceous powders. These include several different codes of SWCNTs (single-walled carbon nanotubes), MWCNTs (multi-walled carbon nanotubes) and CNFs (carbon nanofibers), graphene, diamond, fullerene, as well as several different control carbon blacks and graphites. Explosion screening was performed in a 20 L explosion chamber (ASTM E1226 protocol), at a concentration of 500 g/m3, using a 5 kJ ignition source. Time traces of overpressure were recorded. Samples typically exhibited overpressures of 5-7 bar, and deflagration index KSt= V1/3(dP/dt)max~ 10 - 80 bar-m/s, which places these materials in European Dust Explosion Class St-1. There is minimal variation between these different materials. The explosive characteristics of these carbonaceous powders are uncorrelated with primary particle size (BET specific surface area).
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Applied Research and Technology, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS-R7, Cincinnati, OH 45226 USA.
authors.forename: Leonid A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Turkevich
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Applied Research and Technology, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS-R7, Cincinnati, OH 45226 USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernback
authors.affiliation: Fauske & Associates, LLC, 16W070 83 Street, Burr Ridge, IL 60527 USA.
authors.forename: Ashok G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dastidar
authors.affiliation: Fauske & Associates, LLC, 16W070 83 Street, Burr Ridge, IL 60527 USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osterberg
keywords: carbon; dust; explosion hazard; nanomaterials; nanoparticle