— SAFETY Violent Reaction Between AI and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Cited The explosive reaction which can occur between 2-methylpropane and chloromethane in the presence of aluminum chloride and powdered aluminum is another example of the hazards of aluminum (C&EN, March 15, page 998). Some German documents collected by the Technical Oil Mission (and supplied by the Texas Co.'s H. V. Atwell) tell of an accident which occurred in the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Coal Research, Muelheim/ Ruhr, when researchers were using the reaction to prepare 2,2-dimethylpropane. About 20 batches had been prepared in a 400-cc. autoclave, with no hint as to the possible explosive nature of the reaction. It was then decided to use a bigger autoclave (capacity 2.5 liters, strength 300 atmospheres) to prepare a larger charge. This strength was thought to assure complete safety. At- first, the reaction proceeded as expected. Toward the end, a strongly exothermic reaction occurred. According to the last notes of the researcher (who was killed), there were only three to five minutes before a shattering explosion occurred. Apparently, the researcher had not been warned by a marked increase in pressure. The detonation must have followed in a fraction of a second before the sources of the pressure could reach the manometer, which was not destroyed. According to an investigation, the pressure necessary for static bursting
of the autoclave was about 1470 atmospheres. The rupture was clearly caused by a dynamic strain; the blast pressure must have been over 2000 atmospheres. The exact cause of the accident was not determined.
• Controls enforced at National Reactor Testing Station are adequate for protection of the surrounding area from the standpoint of public health. The first meeting of the Idaho Environmental Advisory Committee, appointed by AEC's Idaho Operations Office, recommended no change in present protective measures. • Monsanto plants completed an entire month without a lost-time accident for the second time in company history. In addition to March 1954, the company's one other no-accident month was February 1951. Frequency rate for the first quarter was 0.76, compared with 1.60 for the same period in 1953.
Low Temperatures Cause Failure O f Polyethylene Beakers Two minutes after liquid nitrogen at —196° C. was introduced into these two polyethylene beakers, they exploded in GE's research laboratory. Polyethylene's relatively high coefficient of expansion caused great strain on the bottoms. In this particular case, bottoms were somewhat weak because of severe pressure applied to the center to imprint a trade-mark
• Tennessee Products and Chemical's
coke plant in Alton Park, Tenn., receives safety plaques from Chattanooga Safety Council and the parent company for completing 1953 without a losttime injury. Plant's 166 employees worked over 363,000 hours without injury.
according to Ayerst Labs. It is an improved formulation of the cream first developed under British government auspices in World War II. T w o forms of Kerodex are available—one for protection against water-soluble irritants, the other against water-insoluble. S 1
• Kerodex barrier cream protects against contact dermatitis caused by primary irritants as well as against sensitizing agents encountered on the job,
For further information on the keyed item mentioned here, see coupon on page 1833
Carbide's Texas C i t y Plant Stresses Eye Protection A graphic demonstration of the necessity of wearing the right goggle was staged recently at Carbide & Carbon's Texas City plant. A dye solution was sprayed on two bespectacled mannequins. Side-shield goggles (left) afford protection, but some liquid still gets into the eyes (left center). Such goggles are primarily to protect against flying particles. Wearing the nod-
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and-shake type (right center), an employee gets no liquid in his eyes (right). Each Carbide employee is issued three pairs of goggles before he enters the plant—clear side shields, dark shields, and chemical resistant. The plant gives special attention to one aspect of safety each month; these demonstrations are part of the campaign to make everyone eye-protection conscious
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