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Diss Factsheets

Physical & Chemical properties

Explosiveness

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Description of key information

In the test for thermal sensitivity, no explosion was observed.
In the test for mechanical sensitivity (shock), no explosion was observed using an impact
energy of 40 J.
The test item Tar wood can be considered as:
“not explosive under the conditions of guideline EU A.14”.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Explosiveness:
non explosive

Additional information

This study was performed in order to determine the explosive properties of Tar wood.

The method following EU A.14 provides a scheme of testing to determine whether a liquid

substance presents a danger of explosion when submitted to the effect of a flame or

shock. For safety reasons, before performing the main tests, very small samples (tip of a

spatula) of the substance are subjected to heating without confinement in a gas flame and

to shock between hammer and anvil. The objective is to ascertain if the substance is so

sensitive and explosive that the prescribed sensitivity tests, particularly that of thermal

sensitivity, should be performed with special precautions so as to avoid injury to the operator.

In the main study the test item is subject to the following tests:

Thermal sensitivity:

The method involves heating the substance in a steel tube, closed by orifice plates with

differing diameters of hole, to determine whether the substance is liable to explode under

conditions of intense heat and defined confinement.

Mechanical sensitivity (shock):

The method involves subjecting the substance to the shock from a specified mass dropped

from a specified height.

In all tests for thermal sensitivity, the following observations were made:

Using the 6 mm orifice a sooting flame with some sparks could be observed after 40 seconds

and the flame died after approx. three minutes.

Using the 2 mm orifice, in the first two tests a sooting flame with sparks could be observed

after approx. one minute and the flame died after approx. four minutes. In the third test

using the 2 mm orifice, a plop was observed additionally after about three minutes, but the

tubes showed no changes resp. no signs of explosive properties.

Justification for classification or non-classification

No signs of an explosive reaction could be observed in any of the tests.

Therefore, the test item Tar wood is considered as “not explosive under the conditions of

guideline EU A.14”. As the test item is a liquid, the test for mechanical sensitivity (friction)

was not applicable in accordance with the guideline EU A.14.