Other Test

The following are other analytical methods for hazard evaluation.

A) Mechanical Sensitivity Test

- Drop hammer sensitivity test

- Friction sensitivity test

1. Drop hammer sensitivity test

A 5 kg iron hammer is dropped onto a sample which is put between two iron
cylindrical rollers, the impact of which is used to evaluate the decomposition
propensity and explosiveness of a sample. The hammer is dropped six times from
the same height to determine the height where decomposition or explosion
occurs once out of six trials (1/6 explosion probability), which is expressed in JIS
grade 1 to 8. Falling Height is 5 to 150 cm.

2. Friction sensitivity test

A sample is put between a fixed porcelain peg and a moving porcelain plate,
followed by frictional motion under load, which, along with the occurrence of
explosion, is used to evaluate the sensitivity. The porcelain plate is moved, once
only, backwards and forwards beneath the porcelain peg, and this trial is
conducted six times under the same load to determine the load where
decomposition or explosion occurs once out of six trials (1/6 explosion
probability), which is expressed in JIS grade 1 to 7.
B) Ignitability and combustibility

1. Flash point

The Tag closed cup, Tag open cup, Seta closed cup, Cleveland closed cup and
Pensky-Martens closed/open cup test methods are available in accordance with
flash point tests for Category II Combustible solids (Japanese Fire Service Act) and
Category IV Flammable liquids (Japanese Fire Service Act).

2. Autoignition temperature

The autoignition temperature refers to the temperature at which the ignition

takes place by heating in air atmosphere without exposure to ignition sources
such as flame and electric spark. SCAS performs an autoignition temperature test
complying with the ASTM standards, which is used for Category IV Flammable
liquids (Japanese Fire Service Act). Test method: ASTM E 659
Temperature and atmosphere: Up to 700 degC under atmospheric pressure

3. BAM ignitability test

For safety reasons, it's important to examine if solids (explosives, unstable

substances, etc.), when exposed to ignition sources (open flame, red-hot
substances, friction spark, electric spark, etc.), readily ignite or not and, in the
case of ignition, if the combustion continues or not after removing those ignition
sources. Specifically, ignition sources with four different energy levels are used,
based on the BAM method, to screen the ignitability.
4. Burning rate test

The flammability of combustible solids is tested according to the IMO test

procedures.
Note 1: A sample is deposited in a prismatic shape on an insulating panel using a
molding apparatus, and ignited with a burner, etc. to measure the time required
for burning the 100 mm distance from the intermediate point. The average
burning rate (mm/sec) is calculated from 100 mm divided by measured time.

C) Electrostatic characteristics

1. Volume resistivity and surface resistivity

It’s very important to fully understand the electrostatic characteristics of a

substance to prevent disasters caused by electrostatic discharge. The volume
resistivity strongly influences the charging characteristics of a substance whose
charge leakage circuit is primarily in its interior. Likewise, the surface resistivity
strongly influences the charging characteristics of a substance whose charge
leakage circuits is primarily on its surface. We can measure the resistivity of
liquids, solids (sheets) and powder with a moisture of less than 50%.

2. Charge quantity

An inclined flume (made of SUS, aluminum, PVC, etc.) with an angle of 45° is set
to slide a substance down the surface and measure the frictional charge quantity
(flume method) or a Faraday cage is used to measure the charge quantity, with
powder air-transferred in SUS with a moisture of less than 50%.

3. Electrostatic charge

An inclined gutter (made of stainless steel, aluminum, PVC, etc.) with an angle of
45°is set to slide a substance down the surface and measure the frictional charge
quantity by faraday cage (gutter method) or a special apparatus is used to
measure the charge quantity with powder transported in stainless steel pipe with
air (air transportation method) under atmosphere with relative humidity less
than 50%.