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In July 2020, flash explosions occurred at two companies in Xinjiang due to trichlorosilane, serving as a warning to us. What exactly is trichlorosilane, and why does it cause accidents? Let’s find out together. http://p1.itc.cn/images01/20201014/4679d2e0bd2f468e90f4dba080c2f329.png I. What is trichlorosilane? At normal temperature and pressure, trichlorosilane is a colorless and transparent liquid with an irritating foul odor; it is fluid, volatile, and hygroscopic. It dissolves easily in organic solvents such as toluene, chloroform, and carbon disulfide. When it comes into contact with water, it decomposes to produce hydrogen chloride gas. It reacts violently with oxidizing agents, and can catch fire or explode when exposed to open flames or high temperatures. II. The fire and explosion accident patterns associated with trichlorosilane can be divided into two main categories: 1. After trichlorosilane leaks, it reacts with moisture in the air to produce hydrogen and hydrogen chloride, leading to fires and explosions; 2. During inspection and maintenance activities, welding or other heat-generating operations can trigger fires and explosions involving trichlorosilane. III. Preventive measures for trichlorosilane: 1. Keep it away from heat sources and open flames. 2. The valves and flanges of the system’s equipment and facilities are properly grounded to eliminate static electricity. 3. Use explosion-proof equipment and tools. 4. Equipped with gas masks and goggles. 5. Flammable gas alarms and supplied-air respirators with possible leakage environmental settings. 6. Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited in the workplace. IV. Response to trichlorosilane accidents 1. Quickly evacuate people from the area contaminated by the leak to a safe zone, isolate the area, and strictly restrict access. 2. Extinguish any sources of fire; if this is not possible, reduce the system pressure. Once the system pressure is lower than that of nitrogen, introduce nitrogen to displace the air, while maintaining a positive pressure to suppress combustion, and cool the outer surface of the container. 3. Wear a self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus and chemical protective clothing, and enter the site from the upwind side. 4. Small leaks: Absorb them with non-flammable materials such as sand. 5. Major leakage: Build dikes or dig pits to contain it and prevent it from entering confined spaces. 6. In case of a fire, use dry powder fire extinguishers or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. When carrying out operations related to trichlorosilane, chemical companies need to be aware of its properties and relevant precautions, and take proper safety measures to prevent accidents.