Recommendations for Storage and Handling of Aluminum Powders And
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Recommendations TR2 for storage and handling of aluminum powders and paste handling of aluminum powders and paste Recommendations for storage and About MEMBERS OF THE PIGMENTS AND The Aluminum POWDER DIVISION OF THE ALUMINUM Association ASSOCIATION INC. The Aluminum Association Inc. (founded in Albemarle Corporation November 1933) is the trade association for Houston Plant producers of primary aluminum, recyclers and Box 2500 semi-fabricated aluminum products, as well as Pasadena, TX 77501 suppliers to the industry. Website: www.albemarle.com Alcoa Specialty Metals Division Based in Arlington, VA, the Association P.O. Box 472 provides leadership to the industry through its Rockdale, TX 76567 programs and services which aim to enhance Website: www.alcoa.com/smd aluminum's position in a world of proliferating materials, increase its use as the “material of AMPAL, Inc. choice,“ remove impediments to its fullest use, P.O. Box 124 and assist in achieving the industry's 2125 Little Gap Road environmental, societal, and economic Palmerton, PA 18071 objectives. Member companies operate about Website: www.ampal-inc.com 200 plants in the U.S and many conduct Ecka Granules of America L.P. business worldwide. 130 Evergreen Road, Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40243 Website: www.ecka-granules.com Eckart America Corporation 4101 Camp Ground Road Louisville, KY 40211 Website: www.eckartamerica.com Silberline Manufacturing Company, Inc. 130 Lincoln Drive Tamaqua, PA 18252 Website: www.silberline.com Toyal America, Inc. 17401 S. Broadway NOTICE Lockport, IL 60441 Disclaimer Website: www.toyala.com The use of any information contained herein U.S. Aluminum, Inc. by any member or non-member of The 86 Fourth Avenue Aluminum Association is entirely voluntary. Haskell, NJ 07420 The Aluminum Association has used its best Valimet, Inc. efforts in compiling the information contained 431 East Sperry Road in this book. While the Association believes Stockton, CA 95206 that its compilation procedures are reliable, it Website: www.valimet.com does not warrant, either expressly or implied, the accuracy or completeness of this information. The Aluminum Association assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of the information herein. All Aluminum Association published standards, data, specifications and other technical materials are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed or withdrawn. Users are advised to contact The Aluminum Association to ascertain whether the information in this publication has been superseded in the interim between publication and proposed use. 1525 Wilson Boulevard., Ste. 600, Arlington, VA 22209 www.aluminum.org Fourth Edition, February 2006 GENERAL SAFETY DEFINITIONS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STORAGE OF ALUMINUM Aluminum Powder: Aluminum powder can be divided into three broad classifications: atomized, POWDER AND PASTE flake and granules. The length, width, and thickness of an atomized particle are all of approximately the same order, the length dimension probably not exceeding Aluminum powder and paste can be shipped, stored two or three times the thickness dimension. The length and used safely if proper attention is given to the or width of a flake particle may be several hundred maintenance of scrupulous housekeeping practices, times its thickness. and if the basic rules of safety contained in this brochure and other referenced sources are carefully Aluminum paste is followed. However, under certain conditions, Aluminum Paste: aluminum flake pigment homogeneously incorporated aluminum powder and paste products can ignite and/or in a solvent. A variety of solvents may be employed, explode. including both low and high flash point types. Detailed information on the fire and/or explosion To provide a better understanding of the recommended hazards associated with a specific paste formulation safe procedures, the Safety and Property Protection may be obtained from the Material Safety Data Sheet Committee of The Aluminum Association's Pigments supplied with the shipment and in discussions with the and Powder Division has prepared this brochure. paste supplier. These recommendations were compiled by the Committee from those sources listed in the Appendix, In this brochure, a storage area is from the technical information presently available and Storage Areas: understood to be an area where powder and paste are from the Member's collective experience in handling kept in closed containers. Requests for additional aluminum powder and paste. Important source information on storage should be addressed to the documents referenced in this brochure are National supplier. Fire Protection Association Standards Nos. 70, 77, and 484. Readers of this publication are encouraged to refer to these NFPA standards. BACKGROUND The Committee believes that if the recommendations WHY POWDER BURNS contained herein are followed, the hazards related to the handling and use of aluminum powders and pastes Chemically, aluminum has an enormous affinity for will be substantially reduced. It should be recognized, oxygen. This results in a thin film of aluminum oxide however, that under some conditions, additional being produced almost instantaneously on the surface precautions may be required. Likewise, technical of the aluminum, when exposed to the atmosphere. advances may uncover better ways of dealing with The aluminum oxide film is inert and protects the these materials. If you have any questions concerning underlying metal from further reaction. aluminum powder and paste, please contact the manufacturer. When an aluminum powder particle is heated to a certain temperature known as the “ignition The suggestions and information in this brochure temperature”, the mass of the particle is so small, that concerning the storage and handling of aluminum the entire particle may oxidize almost instantly. Thus a powder and paste are general in nature. Readers are pile of such particles will “burn.” Since flake particles advised to seek expert advice in connection with their have a much greater surface area per unit mass than individual handling and storage needs. The Aluminum atomized or granular particles, they will ignite more Association and its member companies make no readily and burn faster than the other types of powder. warranty and assume no responsibility or liability with respect to the suggestions and data contained herein. Generally, aluminum powders with a particle size of 40 mesh (420 microns) or smaller present a fire and explosion hazard. The Aluminum Association Recommendations for storage and handling of aluminum powders and paste 3 WHY POWDER EXPLODES GENERAL SAFETY Fine particles of aluminum powder, like some organic PRECAUTIONS powders, such as flour, starch and coal dust, are easily dispersed in air where their low mass allows them to 1. All electrical wiring, lights and equipment must be remain suspended or “float” in the air. These as specified by the latest version of the National suspended particles will burn, similarly to particles in Electrical Code, NFPA 70. Some locations may a pile, when the ignition temperature is reached. require electrical installations suitable for Class I or Class II locations per articles 500 through 504 of However, when dispersed in the proper proportion in NFPA 70. the air, which allows the particles to mix with oxygen, the burning extends from one particle to another with 2. Great care must be taken to prevent the contact of such rapidity, that a violent explosion results. water with aluminum powders. Leaks in steam lines, water lines, radiators or roofs should be Laboratory tests by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and promptly repaired. others have established the proportions required for an 3. Exercise good housekeeping practices in all areas explosion. These values extend through a wide range where aluminum powder or paste is stored or and very little aluminum powder is needed for an handled. Guard against the accumulation of dust on explosion to occur. Aluminum powder in the form of floors, walls and other surfaces. Powder cleanup a dust cloud will ignite with as little as 6% oxygen must be done only with squeegees or soft natural present, the balance being nitrogen; less than 10% bristle brushes. Scoops used to pick up powder oxygen with the balance being helium; or 3% oxygen must be conductive and non-sparking. Synthetic with the balance being carbon dioxide. Very small bristle brushes and plastic or other non-conductive amounts of energy are required to ignite mixtures of scoops must not be used, since they tend to aluminum powder and air. accumulate strong static charges. Standard commercial industrial vacuum cleaners must not be COMMON SOURCES OF IGNITION used for cleaning. Only special machines specifically approved for use with combustible The discharge of static electricity will produce an metal dusts may be used. Keep all rubbish, such as electric spark that could raise the temperature of oily rags, papers and other combustibles out of the suspended powder particles in the vicinity of the spark area. above the ignition temperature — resulting in a fire or explosion. Electric switches, broken light bulbs, 4. Post “No Smoking” signs and enforce the rule. Do electric motor commutators, loose electric power not use open lights, blow torches, welding torches connections — even a metal to metal impact — or permit open flame of any kind in storage and anything producing a spark can set off an explosion of handling areas. aluminum powder suspended in air. Even continued 5. Avoid friction sparks. Do not permit metal to metal metal to metal rubbing (as in a dry sleeve bearing) can or metal to concrete contact. In handling aluminum generate enough heat to set off an explosion. powders and pastes, use electrically conductive, grounded and non-sparking tools. Plastic and HEALTH ASPECTS ferrous metals should not be used. Information on health aspects of aluminum powder 6. Keep aluminum powder and paste containers far and paste is provided in Material Safety Data Sheets enough away from steam pipes, radiators and other supplied by the aluminum powder or paste producer. high temperature sources to prevent heating of the contents. 7. Keep all containers sealed except when opened for removal of material.