Possible Increased Combustible Dust Explosions Due to the Increased Industrial Use of Nano Powders?
NANO POWDERS The interesting thing about nanopowders is the particle size and surface area, making them appear at first glance potentially highly combustible similar to vapor cloud or hybrid mixtures, but they also tend to agglomerate. Particle size, shape, charge, concentration, humidity etc. all affect agglomeration. Consequently, agglomeration (and de-agglomeration in testing) can throw off combustible testing results! Another interesting note is that the finer the particle, the lighter and higher it will travel and settle, so dust collection (and therefore protection - fire, explosion and personal) becomes even more important. On our Linked-In network The Combustible Dust Forum, Robert Dumbrowski at Nanoview Associates asked the following question: Possible Increased Combustible Dust Explosions Due to the Increased Industrial Use of Nano Powders? Rachel Brutosky, at Nilfisk-Advance America did some research and found this from the EPA: * Nanoma...