Static Electricity Setting off BP Farce

[Birddog6]

Just so ya all will know, that manure you been hearing forever about static electricity setting off your BP at home is just that..... manure. It will not, it did not, it is not going to, & it never has, even tho someone told ya it would & etc etc etc....

Check this testing out, this is really neat.

Test Ignition Charges on BP


NOTE: Keep in mind that Airborn Microscopic BP Dust in a Powder Plant where it is made & packaged could & does ignite extremely easily & is under scrutiny of ANY ignitions source including static electricity at all times.

 

[Chuck Deaton]

Almost anything will ignite if properly mixed about 13-1 with oxygen.

I worked a cabinet shop explosion and fire several years ago. Several employees stepped outside the door, not far outside it was winter, and one of them lit a match just immediately after a car, coming off the street hit the building, knocking the accumulated saw dust off the rafters. Blew the windows out and burned the building.

Dust explosions are common in grain elevators.

 

[RJR]

There you are talking dust not granules, and a non conductive material as compared to a conductive material. Even non combustable materials when made into dust will ignite, even soil.

 

[Chuck Deaton]

And a flame as opposed to a spark. Strictly speaking almost anything will burn if the particles are small enough, the mix with oxygen is right and the ignition scource is hot enough.

 

[musketman]

quote:Originally posted by DEADDAWG:
There you are talking dust not granules, They why do the powder companies like GOEX take excess caution against static?

Their employees wear felt sole shoes to keep a static charge from building inside their bodies...

 

[RJR]

In the production of powder, black or smokeless, dust is always a factor. Dust can be ignited a lot easier than granules. I am not saying safety precautions are not needed, you can never be too safe (Murphys Law). Static is an ever present danger. In the production of some powders explosive chemicals are used and an explosive atmosphere is present. In the late 70s after the DuPont plant blew up, I started making my own black powder and the last thing I would do before sealing a jar was to squirt a little ether (sp.) in to combat moisture. Ether could easily be ignited by any spark, static or otherwise. As stated earlier any dust can be ignited if the particulates are small enough, the smaller the particulates the less heat it takes to ignite. In the military working inside an ammo bunker we were always required to ground ourselves before handling sealed ammo cans, and we all know how safe it is to handle loaded small arms ammunition. These safety precautions were in place because of Murphys Law and to enable us to go home each night instead of into the ground. Is black powder safe to handle with static present? I believe so, but I am still going to take the precautions I was taught a long time ago because I do believe in Murphys Law. Take care, Rick.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I used to work for a company that made photographic film and paper. They used tiny, almost microscopic glass beads (PMMA beads) to help emulsions flow. We had to keep the beads in a 5 million dollar explosion-proof building the size of a single-wide trailer because the dust from handling the teeny beads was explosive. Same thing happens in grain elevators. Things not normally explosive can be when in fine enough particles suspended in the air.

I have black powder squirreled away in my den and bedroom in horns, coffee cans, flasks and the original containers. Haven't blown up in 25 years . . . yet.

 

[Chuck Deaton]

Remember Murphy's Law.

 

[Haggis]

Murphy was an optimist.

 

[musketman]

I just got an e-mail from GOEX today reguarding the topic of static setting off black powder...

Here is there reply...

Sir,

While we here at the plant do take certain precautions to guard against static problems with black powder, there have been many studies done over the year (mainly by are military) that prove that the human body can not generate enough static to set off black powder.

In my 24 years in this business there has not been one accident attributed to static of any sort. In fact the myths about black powders dangerous nature are of very little concern at the consumer level. It only takes common sense and respect when using any type of energetic material.


And there you have it, right from the top...

 

I.M.H.O. this thread should be re-read, not to be redundant again, but re-read.
I spoke with an authority on black powder and there is no chance static would set off black powder.
The Goex people concure, and they should know.
Airborn dust is another matter. Even ordinary white flower, the stuff you make bread with, will and has exploded causing death, injuries and fires.
Mix any dust in the air and give an ignition source wnad KA-BOOM.
Ther have been many coal dust explosions, as well as grain mills, flower mills and so on. I've read that aluminum dust is particularly explosive in dust air suspension. :shocking: