SAFETY
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NEVADA AEROSPACE SCIENCE ASSOCIATES
does NOT promote nor certify these activities as safe nor appropriate to all
visitors to this WebSite. Information presented is for educational purposes
only. NEVADA AEROSPACE SCIENCE ASSOCIATES is not responsible for viewer's activities, conduct
or participation in the use and pursuit of content presented.
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NEVADA AEROSPACE SCIENCE ASSOCIATES can not over stress SAFETY in all activities presented. Primarily safety when working with chemicals and processing propellant however safety must be addressed when testing and firing propellants, and motors just as well.This stated safety must be present in all aspects of activities of this type including normal shop work such as machining, drilling and evening working with fiberglass and other related compounds.
A modified Safety Outline based on the same presented in Prof. Terry McCreary's EXPERIMENTAL COMPOSITE PROPELLANT is a handy guide. This outline presents a realistic working Safety Outline however no outline with regards to safety can ever be complete. It can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Following is a summary of the more important safety rules you should observe whenever handling, mixing or experimenting with propellant ingredients. Read the rules carefully and often. Do not become complacent with redundancy. It has been proven time and again that accidents happen when one becomes use to procedure. Never take mixing propellant nor processing propellant for granted.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Do not allow chemical substances,
liquid or solid, to come in contact with your skin. If some does, wash it off immediately with
soap and water, or follow the directions prescribed in the substances MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
Always have a fire extinguisher on hand, both a water and foam type. You can never say you'll never know, you must know.
Always have a readily available source of water and know what chemicals will react with water.
Always have the antidotes on hand that are recommended in the substances MSDS.
Always have a first aid kit on hand.
Always have a telephone at hand.
Always have another person with you.
No plastic tools or containers shall be used for the measuring or mixing of any chemicals. Do not use metal objects that will cause sparks when handling or mixing fuels. All used containers shall be properly disposed of and never reused with any other chemical.
Do not smoke or permit open flames in any area where chemicals are handled or stored. Remember that water heaters, oil and gas, furnaces, ovens, space heaters, etc., have open pilot flames burning all the time-even in summer.
All electrical equipment used in the Processing of Propellant shall be properly grounded to avoid static discharge.
Do not use electric motors or open electric coils (such as in electric heaters, toasters, etc.) in an area where chemical dust may be present. Most modern motors used today in mixers, fans or pumps have sealed motors which reduce the hazard of spark. All the same never take things for granted.
Do not store large amounts of propellant ingredients in one place. Break up your storage area into small "dumps," widely separated. Store unlike ingredients separately, not together. Provide protective isolation between chemicals and substances.
Avoid storing propellant ingredients in containers which can break or shatter and will produce fragments in the event of a situation. Use cardboard cartons, wooden boxes, plastic containers as much as possible.
Do not use match heads for any purpose. One match head is bad enough. Three match heads can blow a bolt through a piece of plywood. One pound of match heads can blow up a truck.
Do not use chlorates, picrates, iodates or fulminates for any purpose. Beware of the dangerous properties of the following substances and avoid their use:
| Potassium
Chlorate Sodium Chlorate |
Explode readily when rubbed, ground or mixed. Not even used professionally. |
| Powdered Metals: |
Small-grained powders of pure iron, magnesium, lithium, beryllium, zirconium, and aluminum will ignite spontaneously when dispersed in the air. All of these are extremely shock-sensitive when mixed with an oxidizer. |
| Metallic Potassium | Ignites spontaneously in the air. |
| Fluorine: |
Extremely toxic. Will react violently with anything containing carbon; such as human flesh, wood, paper, etc. Its fumes are toxic and can form a deadly gas. |
| Hydrazine: |
Will spontaneously ignite in combination with many substances. Fumes are toxic. |
| Nitrocellulose (Gun cotton) and Nitroglycerin: |
Both extremely shock sensitive as well as toxic. |
| Potassium Ferrocyanidel Potassium Ferrocyanidel |
React violently with oxidizers and explode when mixed with chlorates. |
When transporting propellant on a public highway, or from state to state, be aware of requirements set forth by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and be in compliance.
MIXING AND PROCESSING
Do
not mix chemical substances whose properties and behavior you are not familiar with.
Do not attempt to melt, or heat, chemicals unless
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A
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You are positive
of the melting temperature and the flash temperature (point at which a substance
will flash and burn) of each element
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B
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There is a sufficient
safety margin between the two temperatures
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When mixing chemicals you should always wear an apron and rubber gloves to avoid contact with chemicals.
Wear cotton clothing, never synthetics. Synthetics will melt to your skin if put to flame, far worse than just burning.
Do all mixing and all laboratory work in a well ventilated room. Make sure there is a constant source of fresh air available and the work area is not confined or cluttered.
Don't allow dust or vapors from chemicals to accumulate in your work area. If they do, stop the operation.
Do not remain in an area where dust or vapors have accumulated.
Do not breathe in dust or vapors from chemicals, and do not let them get in your eyes.
Do not rub your eyes, scratch your skin, or lick your fingers or lips when handling chemicals.
Clean your fingernails thoroughly, wash your hair, ears and exposed skin, and blow your nose well after handling chemicals.
When you have finished, wash all tools, utensils, protective equipment, wearing apparel, floors and table tops that have been exposed to chemicals. Pay extra attention to seams and small joints. Residue in such places can cause trouble.
Mix only small amounts of any propellant combination being tested.
Do not mix more propellant than is necessary for the project at hand.
Do not rub or grind chemical ingredients unless you are positive they are not friction sensitive.
Do not attempt to use any solid propellant grain which shows cracks or air bubbles in its composition.
Process propellant away from the mixing area. Drilling and machining propellant creates very small waste pieces which under even good safety conditions can ignite. Accidents are not planned and even with the greatest care, things can happen.
Never introduce an open flame in an area where the mixing or processing of propellant is taking place, or has taken place for that matter.
AVOID DUST AT ALL COST . The number one case of situations out of hand is the careless creation of any form of dust. Even non flammable substances such as baking flour can ignite in a dust form.
| PDF VERSION AVAILABLE |
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