Flammable Materials Example

A Flammable material is the one that when receiving a spark or being in an environment that is too hot, tends to start a combustion. It can be both Fuels like Oxidizing, and can be in all three physical states: gas, liquid, and solid.

The Inflammability is, then, the ability of a substance to start burning, participating in the beginning of an exothermic combustion reaction.

Solid Flammability

For the solid materialsit's more complicated flammability is present, since contact with the source of heat or spark occurs only on the surface. There are two options for a combustion to be at its best in a solid flammable material:

The first is that the heat source is nearby and in intense heat, covering the entire surface of the solid. If the solid is spherical or otherwise three-dimensional, it requires surround it completely to warm it with uniformity.

The second option for a combustion to be well present in a solid flammable material, is that this solid is granulated, as fine as possible, so that the heat from the source is distributed in the best way, and the solid ignites in smaller areas, which is exponentially

more efficient than what was said in the first option.

Flammability in Liquids

For the liquid materials two cases also occur in the manifestation of flammability:

In the first case, if the liquid is at rest or steady state, confined in a container, such as a glass, the flammability shall be limited to area exposed to air, to that surface that faces the outside. The combustion will be slow, since first that layer of liquid will ignite, and then it will move to a next layer below, and so on, until it reaches the bottom. It is not an efficient combustion.

In the second case, if the liquid is in a flow regime, moving, all liquid particles have a equal probability of ignition, so it will start a uniform and faster combustion.

Flammability in Vapors and Gases

Flammability comes in its form more efficient on flammable materials in the state of vapor and gas, since the particles of this state of aggregation are going to be in sufficient motion to be all almost simultaneously available to the spark or heat source, and therefore the combustion will be snapshot.

The vapor state in flammable materials is normally the product of the heated a material have been in shape liquid before, having favored his evaporation.

Flammability Applications

For processes that require a large amount of heat, flammable materials are used, of which the most commonly used are usually Fuels.

Fuel, due to its ease of ignition, will give us access to all the chemical energy that it has available in its structure, to turn it into thermal energy that can be used, in a combustion.

For combustion to take place in the best possible way, it will require the abundant presence of the oxidizer, accompanying the constant inflammation and disintegration of the fuel.

Flammability as a dangerous characteristic

Flammability occurs in substances that serve as an auxiliary service for industry, such as fuels. They are conducted through pipes that must be marked and comply with a maintenance pattern. Should these substances leak, there will be an obvious fire hazard.

In addition, there are numerous industrial wastes that have flammability as one of their main characteristics. So it is best to pre-treat them or confine them until they are properly disposed of.

There are like flammable residues oils, solvents, solids wetted in fuels, and gases that are emitted into the atmosphere and alter the ecological balance.

Identification of flammable materials

To identify flammable materials in general, either contained in tanks such as gases, or stored in jars Like liquids and solids, there are Pictograms, which are images that illustrate the flammability of what is within.

The Flammable Materials Pictogram It has an orange or yellow background, and the flammability symbol in black, which is a flame burning intensely.

Precautions against flammable materials

When you are going to handle a flammable material, whether at a domestic or industrial level, you should always use a personal protection equipment.

Respiratory protection must be covered to prevent substance vapors from flooding the airways; You must also protect the skin that is exposed to any spillage of the material. Finally, you have to take care of your eyesight, covering your eyes with safety glasses, in case there is a fleeting flare that emerges from the material. The feet must also be covered, with a closed shoe if it is at a domestic level, and with safety boots if it is at an industrial level.

20 examples of flammable materials 

1. Methane
2. Ethane
3. Propane
4. Butane
5. Hexane
6. Acetylene
7. Methyl alcohol
8. Ethyl alcohol
9. Ethyl ether
10. Diesel
11. Gasoline
12. Benzene
13. Diesel oil
14. Acetone
15. Hydrogen sulfide
16. Carbon Bisulfide
17. Phenol
18. Toluene
19. Nitroglycerine
20. Glycerin