This is documented issue and the pressures have been verified

http://www.airproducts.com/Responsibility/EHS/ProductSafety/
ProductSafetyInformation/safety_bulletins_PotentialPressurization.htm

Quoting Jay Young :

> I fail to see how gaseous HF can react with steel to produce an excessive
> hydrogen pressure and burst a cylinder:
>                                             6HF + 2Fe yields 2FeF3 + 3H2
> The product would be FeF3, not FeF2, because fluorine is an excellent
> oxidizing agent.  Consequently, if anything, the gas pressure inside the
> cylinder would necessarily be reduced as the HF attacks the iron of the
> cylinder.
>
> It's obvious that the cause of the explosion was the thinning of the
> cylinder wall at one or more locations, NOT the pressure of the hydrogen.
>
> Jay Young
>
> PS: Alas, in these modern times, these young folks just don't know their
> descriptive chemistry like us old guys do.  I predict disaster and
> catastrophe--as we old guys die off, the world will be left with chemists
> who don't know descriptive chemistry.  Alas and Alak! (or whatever)
>
> *************************************************************************
> **********************************
>
> On Fri, 8 Jul 2005 15:42:58 -0700 Debbie Decker 
> writes:
> > Hi gang:
> >
> >  From our intranet for your information.  If you want copies of the
> > photos,
> > lemme know.
> >
> > BTW, I did have a potentially scary situation with HBr in lecture
> > bottles -
> > quite ancient stuff.  It has a similar nasty habit of
> > over-pressurizing
> > over time.  It was managed without incident, several $10K later.
> >
> > Ya'll be safe,
> > Debbie
> >
> >
> > >Priority: NORMAL
> > >X-Mailer: Execmail for Win32 5.1.1 Build (10)
> > >X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.49 on 169.237.104.156
> > >X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.51 on 128.111.125.200
> > >Date:         Fri, 8 Jul 2005 13:55:39 -0700
> > >Reply-To: UCIH Program Management Group
> > 
> > >Sender: UCIH Program Management Group 
> > >From: Kevin Kaboli 
> > >Subject:      recent lab explosion 
> > >To: SBUCIH-L**At_Symbol_Here**LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > >
> > >Hi Folks,
> > >FYI-Here is the report of the explosion by Dave Vandenberg:
> > >
> > >Best
> > >Kevin
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >UC EH&Sers:  Below is a note describing an accident that occurred
> > recently
> > >on our campus.  You may already be aware of this potential safety
> > issue
> > >with hydrogen fluroride cylinders.  If not, would recommend that
> > you
> > >identify and dispose of old cylinders of this material.  We were
> > fortunate
> > >that no one was injured in this accident.  Feel free to contact me
> > with any
> > >questions about this incident, but I will be away next week.
> > >
> > >- Dave Vandenberg, UCSB Laboratory Safety Manager
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >This past Sunday evening (7/3/05) an old gas lecture bottle
> > cylinder of
> > >anhydrous hydrogen fluoride spontaneously exploded within a gas
> > cabinet on
> > >the first floor of the Chemistry building.  Thankfully, no one was
> > injured
> > >because no one was in the room, or adjoining spaces.  However,
> > given the
> > >extensive damage to the lab, it is likely that anyone present would
> > have
> > en seriously injured from flying debris and/or HF exposure.  The
> > >explosion also resulted in the building being locked down for about
> > 12
> > >hours by the Fire Department.
> > >
> > >Attached are pictures showing the remains of the lecture bottle and
> > a shelf
> > >about 10 feet away where the heavy-duty window from the gas cabinet
> > can be
> > >seen after it was hurled.
> > >
> > >Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride in carbon steel cylinders may react
> > slowly over
> > >years with the iron in the steel to form iron fluoride and
> > hydrogen.  The
> > >hydrogen pressure can ultimately build to the point where it
> > ruptures the
> > >cylinder.  This is discussed more fully on the bottom of pg. 5 of
> > this MSDS
> > >from Air Products:
> > >
> > >http://www.airproducts.com/MSDS/searchresults.asp
> > >
> > >Given this potentially serious hazard, WE ASK THAT EACH RESEARCH
> > GROUP
> > >VERIFY WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY GASEOUS HYDROGEN FLUORIDE IN STOCK.
> > If some
> > >is  on hand, please do not move it, but inform EH&S at x-4899
> > (after Friday
> > >call x-3293). Each cylinder will be evaluated individually as to
> > it's
> > >condition and ultimate fate.
> > >
> > >Thanks for your cooperation.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >----------------------
> > >David Vandenberg
> > >Laboratory Safety Specialist
> > >UCSB Env. Health & Safety
> > >(805) 893-4899
> > >David.Vandenberg**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.ucsb.edu
> > >--- End Forwarded Message ---
> > >
> > >
> > >----------------------
> > >Kevin Kaboli, MA, MS, CIH
> > >Industrial Hygiene Program Manager
> > >University of California
> > >Santa Barbara, CA 93106
> > >Kevin.Kaboli**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.ucsb.edu
> > >(805)893-8787
> > >(805)893-8659 FAX
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>

--
Joseph R Passante, CIH, CHO
Industrial Hygiene Manager
Environmental Health & Radiation Safety
University of Pennsylvania
215.746-6550
215-898-0140 (F)
215-651-0554 (M)

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