Nitrous Oxide
There are many oxidizers which can cause hazards.
Example:
On 26th July 2007 an explosion ocurred at the Scaled Compostes facility at Mojave Airport in California involving Nitrous Oxide[1] [2].
Fire/Explosion Hazards
Above 1200 F the NO could explosively decompose.
"Decomposition to N2 and O2 will occur at a lower temperature (approximately 650dF), if oxides of silver, copper and nickel are present. Some of these oxides may result from soldering or brazing operations"[3].
Chemical/physical (Imported from Wikipedia)
At room temperature (20°C) the saturated vapour pressure is 58.5 bar, rising up to 72.45 bar at 36.4°C- the critical temperature. The pressure curve is thus unusually sensitive to temperature.[4]
Liquid nitrous oxide acts as a good solvent for many organic compounds; liquid mixtures and may form shock sensitive explosives.[citation needed]{{#if:||}}
As with many strong oxidisers, contamination of parts with fuels have been implicated in rocketry accidents, where small quantities of nitrous / fuel mixtures explode due to 'water hammer' like effects (sometimes called 'dieseling'- heating due to adiabatic compression of gases can reach decomposition temperatures).[5]
There have also been accidents where nitrous oxide decomposition in plumbing has led to the explosion of large tanks.[6]
References
| Hazards |
|---|
