How flammable is xylene?

What are fire hazards and extinguishing media for xylene? Flammable Properties: FLAMMABLE LIQUID. Can ignite at room temperature. Releases vapour that can form explosive mixture with air.

How explosive is xylene?

Vapors are heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause a fire or explosion far from the source and flash back. Flow or agitation may generate electrostatic charges. Xylenes may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture in closed tanks or containers.

What is the flash point of xylene?

Flash point: 32°C c.c. The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, through the skin and by ingestion.

What is the minimum ignition energy of xylene?

Minimum ignition energy : 0.2 mJ Specific conductivity : 0.1 pS/m Saturation concentration : (20°C) 29/37 VOC content : 100 % Other properties : Gas/vapour heavier than air at 20°C.

Can I heat xylene?

Xylene has an auto-ignition temperature of 465 °C / 869 °F.

This means that if you apply xylene to a heat source, it will ignite without requiring a spark or flame. The ignition point is therefore well above its boiling point.

Effects of Xylene

Does xylene eat through plastic?

Alcohol, along with the other oxygenated solvents like acetone and MEK, seem to keep okay when they're stored in LDPE. However, the more nonpolar hydrocarbons (xylene, naphtha, paint thinner) slowly diffuse through the sides of LDPE bottles and escape.

Does xylene have a high boiling point?

Notable characteristics. The xylenes have very similar properties, differing slightly from isomer to isomer. The boiling point for each isomer is around 140 °C (284.00 °F), and the melting point lies between −47.87 °C (−54.17 °F) (m-xylene) and 13.26 °C (55.87 °F) (p-xylene).

What is the dust explosion pentagon?

The dust explosion pentagon is an expansion of the fire triangle as it relates to dust. The fire triangle starts with fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. So if you have these three elements at the same time, you can get a fire.

What is a low flashpoint?

Low flashpoint means the lowest temperature in Celsius (closed cup test) at which a product will give off enough flammable vapour to be ignited, as determined by an approved flashpoint apparatus.

Are xylenes reactive?

XYLENE reacts exothermically with sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and strong oxidizing agents [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 962].

Which solvent is not flammable?

Non-flammable solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride, are non-explosive, but are expensive and are objectionable because they dissolve too much oil from furs, woolen goods, etc.

Are xylene fumes harmful?

Exposure to xylene can irritate the eyes, nose, skin, and throat. Xylene can also cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and in high doses, death. Workers may be harmed from exposure to xylene. The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

How can I safely use xylene?

What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed when working with xylene? Eye/Face Protection: Wear chemical safety goggles. A face shield (with safety goggles) may also be necessary. Skin Protection: Wear chemical protective clothing e.g. gloves, aprons, boots.

Can you mix xylene and water?

Xylene evaporates and burns easily. Xylene does not mix well with water; however, it does mix with alcohol and many other chemicals.

Should xylene be used in a fume hood?

Usage of proper personal protective equipment and a decent fume hood prevents the hazardous effects of xylene.

What is tetrahedron fire?

A tetrahedron is best described as a pyramid, which is a solid with four plane faces. All the four elements essentially must be present for the occurrence of fire i.e. oxygen, heat, fuel, and a chemical chain reaction. If you remove any of the essential elements, the fire will be extinguished.

Can potato starch explode?

Potato starch powder – or other dust particles, including commonly available ones such as sugar or flour – can be an explosion hazard.

Can sawdust explode?

Clouds of sawdust are combustible and therefore susceptible to fire, and if the dust is contained within full or partial enclosures in significant volume, a single spark or ignition source can trigger an explosion.

What does xylene react with?

Xylene can react with strong acids and oxidizers.

What can xylene dissolve?

Xylene can dissolve hydrocarbons and many water-insoluble compounds.

Is xylene the same as acetone?

Acetone and xylene are both flammable substances that have a distinctive odor. Acetone and xylene also both work well as solvents to remove lacquers and paints. Acetone is a smaller molecule than xylene and it contains an oxygen atom in the molecular structure. Xylene has a sweet smell and is toxic to humans.

Does xylene evaporate completely?

Xylene evaporates quickly, meaning that most xylene that gets into soil or water is released into the air and broken down by sunlight and less harmful chemicals within a couple of days. However, if xylene make its way down into underground water, it may remain for several months before being broken down.

Is xylene cancerous?

Toluene and xylene. While no direct human evidence is available, there is recent evidence of carcinogenicity of toluene and xylene at high concentrations in experimental animals.

Does xylene dissolve rubber?

Xylene is primarily used as a solvent (a liquid that can dissolve other substances), particularly in the printing, rubber and leather industries.