Unintended Hydrogen Formation from Metallic Powder
Fire of drums containing lithium metal powder: Spontaneous combustion took place at drums containing lithium metal powder which were charged with argon gas for experiments. While lithium metal powder had usually been kept inside films of fluid paraffin to avoid its contact with water, it was stored in drums charged with argon gas for reuse in a tentative way. Water in the air got in to react with lithium because of incomplete sealing of the drums. In addition, the reaction heat built up under hot and humid condition on the day of accident leading to ignition of hydrogen or lithium.
Event Date
September 7, 1987
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
lithium powders,
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
3
Number of Fatalities
2
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Orignal source lost. RISCAD is closed.