Thermal runaway analyses for two organic peroxides with H2O and dry fire-extinguishing chemicals by DSC and VSP2

Abstract

In recent years, organic peroxides, including methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO) and cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), have often caused thermal runaway reactions, fires, and thermal explosions worldwide. Under normal circumstances, H2O and dry fire-extinguishing chemicals are often employed to eliminate fire situations. We evaluated the thermal runaway reaction for MEKPO and CHP mixed with H2O and dry fire-extinguishing chemicals by differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal runaway reaction for CHP mixed with dry fire-extinguishing chemicals by vent sizing package 2. The results showed that ABC dry chemical, BC dry chemical, and XBC dry chemical all caused the decomposition of MEKPO to occur at lower onset temperature and H2O caused the ΔH d of MEKPO to become higher. On the other hand, H2O and XBC dry chemical induced the decomposition of CHP to occur at lower onset temperature as well as lower thermal explosion temperature. The maximum of self-heating rate ((dT/dt)max) and the maximum pressure-rise rate ((dP/dt)max) of CHP mixed with dry fire-extinguishing chemicals were measured lower than CHP alone. The results indicated that MEKPO and CHP are highly hazardous when mixed with H2O and some dry fire-extinguishing chemicals. In view of loss prevention, the results can be useful references for fire fighters dealing with thermal upsets in chemical plants.