Experimental determination of flash points of flammable liquid aqueous solutions

Agnès Janes (1) , Jacques Chaineaux (1)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques

The flash point is considered as a determinant parameter to classify the flammable liquids, regarding the European CLP regulation, as well as the transport of dangerous goods regulation. In the case of some low concentrated flammable liquid aqueous solutions, the existence of a flash point is not very well defined, and their flammability is not precisely known. The experimental measurements of flash points are described in numerous national or international standards, which differ by their range of validity and by the specified experimental conditions. The flash point of ethanol, acetone, acetic acid and formic acid aqueous solutions was measured using Abel and Pensky-Martens in close cup methods, chosen regarding predicted values of flash point. Results obtained show that, for the most flammable products, such as acetone or ethanol, weakly concentrated aqueous solutions still remains flammable. In the case of acetic or formic acid aqueous solutions, a threshold concentration can be determined under which the solutions are considered as non flammable, regarding the European CLP regulation and the transport of dangerous goods regulation.

Domaines: Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]

Agnès Janes, Jacques Chaineaux. Experimental determination of flash points of flammable liquid aqueous solutions. 14. International Symposium on Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in the Process Industry, May 2013, Florence, Italy. pp.943-948, ⟨10.3303/CET1331158⟩. ⟨ineris-00976242v2⟩