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Title: Influence of electrode material on spark-ignition probability. Rept. of Investigations/1992

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7103970

The testing procedures of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration specify that intrinsic safety acceptance tests be conducted using a standard tungsten-cadmium electrode configuration in the breakflash apparatus. However, in realistic mining environments, other materials may be more likely sources of sparking. Information defining the probability of spark ignition between common materials such as aluminum, brass, copper, lead, tin, cold rolled steel, and stainless steel is of more practical value in determining ignition hazards. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has completed an investigation of the influence of material on the ignition probability using the breakflash apparatus. By comparing ignition currents or ignition voltages corresponding to a probability of one ignition per thousand sparks to those found previously for cadmium, a margin of safety may be estimated for each material. The paper presents the results of an investigation into the influence of disk electrode material on the probability of ignition.

Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Pittsburgh Research Center
OSTI ID:
7103970
Report Number(s):
PB-92-206929/XAB; BUMINES-RI-9416
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB88-232145 and PB89-107379. Library of Congress catalog card no. 91-7375
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English