Possible Danger in mixing Barium Azide with Chloride Compounds

Abstract

Suggested by the small explosive accident occurred from the mixture of barium azide (used as a getter) and carbon tetra-chloride at a vacuum radio tube factory, this research was made through the experimental testing of :
1. First, determining the explosive sensitivity of the mixture of barium azide and carbon tetrachloride on a fall hammer tester.
2. Determining the explosive sensitivity of barium azide itself
Then, observing these both sensitivities in comparison.
4. Finally, repeating the same testing on the mixture of barium azide with other various chlorine compounds,
to know the possible danger of mixing barium azide with carbon tetrachloride eventually for the sake of preventing the accidents of this kind.
In result of the experiment, the following points were made clear.
1. Barium azide increases its explosive sensitivity by impact remarkably when mixed with carbon tetrachloride, more than when it was alone.
2. Barium azide tends to explosion also with other particular chlorine compounds, not only carbon tetrachloride. The more the content of chlorine the larger this explosive danger is. On the contrary, the mixture with the compound of less chlorine content, such as monochloro benzene, invites no ignition or explosion.
3. The mixture of barium azide and carbon tetrachloride obtained through soaking for 40 hours and letting the latter volatilized afterwards show little difference in the explosive sensitivity, compared with that of barium azide itself.
4. This explosive reaction of the impact-given mixture of barium azide and carbon tetrachloride is considered to ensue from another explosive reaction occurred by the reaction of metallic barium which came out of barium azide with carbon tetrachloride.