Dust Explosions and Solid Epoxy Resins: Recognizing the Risks

Technical bulletin

For more information about epoxy resin dust
explosions, including explosion characteris-
tics and safety parameters, read our 11-page
technical bulletin, "Dust Explosions and Solid
Epoxy Resins."

Approximately 70 percent of the powders handled by industry, including dust from solid epoxy resins, can form combustible dust. Dust is defined as small particles in the atmosphere which can settle on their own weight, but remain airborne as a dust/air mixture. If these materials are dispersed in the air and ignite, the flames can spread in much the same way as a gas/air mixture. Because the resulting explosion is both spontaneous and violent, personnel, property and the environment are all placed at risk.

Conducive conditions
Industrial dust explosions can be caused by many sources, including sparks, friction and glowing material. Before dust can explode, these basic requirements must be met:

  • The dust must be combustible
  • The dust must be capable of becoming airborne
  • The dust must have a size distribution capable of flame propagation
  • The dust concentration must be within explosion limits
  • An ignition source must be present
  • Paints and coatings
  • The atmosphere must contain sufficient oxygen to support and sustain combustion

If all of these requirements happen at the same time, a dust explosion can occur. Eliminating any of these requirements reduces the likelihood of a dust explosion.

Resins and risk
Many epoxy resins are reaction products of bisphenol-A and epichlorohydrin. They range from low molecular weight liquid products to very high molecular weight solids. Epoxies generally become solids when they reach a molecular weight of 1100. The subsequent pure solid epoxy resin can be a source for dusts and the associated dangers. Materials made of cured epoxy can, under certain circumstances, form dust from grinding and grilling.

Because different combustible values can occur for what appear to be the same dusts, it is important to test the dust to be handled for composition, fineness and moisture content, to ascertain its combustibility under existing conditions.

For more information about epoxy resin dust explosions, including explosion characteristics and safety parameters, read our 11-page technical bulletin, "Dust Explosions and Solid Epoxy Resins."

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