On the fire hazard of azobisisobutyronitrile
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I encountered the fire hazard associated with azobisisobutyronitrile in a project. Neither the Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings nor the Code for Fire Protection in Petrochemical Industries provides clear specifications on this matter; some sources classify it as a Class A substance, while others classify it as a Class B substance. Has anyone who has dealt with this issue found any clear guidelines? Thank you first
Azobisisobutyronitrile catches fire when exposed to heat; it belongs to Category A. Our company uses it as a catalyst, and it is usually stored in a cold storage with a temperature controlled between 5 and -5 degrees Celsius. Its appearance is that of a white crystalline solid, with a melting point of 0.5 degrees Celsius
The reactants involved in the azo production process include hydrazine hydrate, chlorine gas, propyl cyanohydrin, etc. Methanol is used for dissolution and purification, while ammonia water is used in the neutralization process. Methanol is classified as a Class A liquid; therefore, the plant design must take into account the requirements for Class A substances. I believe that azobisisobutyronitrile products should be classified as Category A, as they are prone to explosion upon decomposition when exposed to high temperatures or impacts. However, many sources classify them as Category C (flammable solids); it ultimately depends on individual interpretation
Azo diisobutyronitrile should be classified as Category B, I think. 1. Code for Building Design GB50016, Class A6 – it primarily focuses on strong oxidizing agents. 2. According to the petrochemical code GB50160, in the examples of solid fire hazard classification, Category B explicitly includes azobisisobutyronitrile.