Hazardous Reactions of Aluminum Powder with Water in the Propellant, Explosive and Pyrotechnic (PEP) Industries

Although aluminum powder has been successfully used in propellant, explosive and pyrotechnic PEP for generations, there are hazards associated with allowing the material to become wet. Unfortunately, many of the normal industrials operations, such as the use of water traps on vacuum collectors, may allow wet aluminized PEP to accumulate, resulting in a hazardous event. This paper investigates the reaction phenomena and provides some test data to qualify the hazard.