SEDL / STP / STP1561-EB / STP20120018

Development of Burn Curves to Assist With Metals Selection in Oxygen

Forsyth, Elliot T.
Technical Consultant, Oxygen Safety Consultants, Inc., Wendell Hull & Associates, Inc., Tulsa, OK

Linley, Nicholas
Electrical Engineer, Wendell Hull & Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, NM

Chiffoleau, Gwenael J. A.
Senior Scientist and Test Facility Manager, Wendell Hull & Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, NM

Hooser, Jared
Mechanical Engineer, Wendell Hull & Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, NM

Newton, Barry E.
VP R&D, Wendell Hull and Associates, Inc., Las Cruces, NM

Pages: 32    Published: Nov 2012

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Abstract

Promoted ignition data from ASTM G124 have been of great value to the industry, as they provide a fundamental basis for comparing the relative flammability of metal alloys in oxygen. An industry-sponsored metals test and analysis program was performed with the goal of applying statistical analysis methods to ASTM G124 data to create burn curves that plot the estimated average burn length versus pressure for a given alloy. These burn curves provide a more thorough characterization of the relative flammability of metal alloys in oxygen and, as such, allow greater understanding of the risk of self-sustained combustion (i.e., burning) if an alloy is ignited at a given pressure in oxygen. This paper presents the results of the industry-sponsored test and analysis program, including the burn curves and corresponding statistical confidence curves that were developed for five alloys: 316 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, Inconel 625, Inconel 600, and Hastelloy C-276.