Potentially Detonable Condition in Liquid Layers Due to Multicomponent Mass Transfers

Abstract

Inhomogeneities produced in an initially homogeneous liquid layer by mass transfer of several components may lead to a potentially detonable local concentration even though the average concentration of the explosive component in the system remains below the detonation limit. Equations are developed for a three-component system in which one component preferentially vaporizes from solution and a second component is condensed. The equations are applied to the hydrazine-hydrazine nitrate-water system. Local concentrations which exceed the safe limit of hydrazine nitrate are found. In comparable situations, additional tests should be performed which take this inhomogeneity into account before the system is accepted as safe from accidental detonation.