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The Chemistry of Hazardous Materials
Published in Armen S. Casparian, Gergely Sirokman, Ann O. Omollo, Rapid Review of Chemistry for the Life Sciences and Engineering, 2021
Armen S. Casparian, Gergely Sirokman, Ann O. Omollo
An important cautionary note about one class of organic compounds containing oxygen bears mentions, i.e., ethers, already mentioned in Chapter 9. Ethers are a class of compounds that contain the R1-O-R2 linkage or functional group, where R1 and R2 are alkyl or aryl groups (hydrocarbon chains). Diethyl ether, C2H5-O-C2H5, is an example of this functional group. Here, R1 = R2, but that is not always the case. Tetrahydrofuran is another example of an ether. Ethers stored in glass bottles or other suitable containers for long periods of time may leak, if not sealed tightly, absorb and react with ambient oxygen, and form unstable organic peroxides. Organic peroxides have a R1-O-O-R2 linkage and may be sensitive to mechanical shock and explode. If there are signs of crystallization or even cloudiness present, great care must be exercised in moving or opening such a bottle or container.
Terms and Definitions
Published in Rick Houghton, William Bennett, Emergency Characterization of Unknown Materials, 2020
Rick Houghton, William Bennett
Organic peroxides are special oxidizers in that they contain an oxidizing portion and a reducing portion in the same molecule. In other words, an organic peroxide molecule contains both fuel and oxidizer tied together. The missing side of the fire triangle is the energy portion necessary to initiate combustion. When peroxides degrade, it is often carbon dioxide that is released, not oxygen. The decomposition of the organic peroxide may be violent enough to burn or explode. For the fire to spread to other nearby objects, atmospheric oxygen is necessary to support combustion.
Modeling of Polymerization Processes
Published in E. Robert Becker, Carmo J. Pereira, Computer-Aided Design of Catalysts, 2020
Organic peroxides are widely used as initiators for free-radical polymerization of vinyl and diene monomers, as curing agents for the thermoset resins and, as cross-linking agents for elastomers. There are nine major different types of peroxide initiators that are commercially produced for the polymer and resin industries: diacyl peroxides, acetyl alkylsulfonyl peroxides, dialkyl peroxydicarbonates, tert-alkyl peroxyesters, OO-tert-alkyl-O-alkyl monoperoxycarbonates, di-(tert-alkyl)per(oxy)ketals, di-tert-alkyl peroxides, tert-alkyl hydroperoxides, and ketone peroxides. The selection of initiator types or compositions (e.g., single or mixed) for a specific polymerization is made based on the thermal decomposition characteristics (e.g., half-life), compatibility with reacting fluid, polymer properties obtainable by the initiator, and the cost.
Thermal stability evaluation of tert-butyl peroxybenzoate mixed with impurities
Published in Chemical Engineering Communications, 2023
Yilin Zhao, Nengcheng Zhou, Min Hua, Xiuxia Guo, Wenxing Zhang, Huichun Jiang, Xuhai Pan, Juncheng Jiang
Tert-butyl perbenzoate (TBPB) is often used as an organic peroxide initiator in the production of polystyrene. Organic peroxides are defined as organic compounds containing o-o bonds formed by the replacement of hydrogen atoms in hydrogen peroxide by alkyl, acyl, and aromatic groups. Due to the presence of peroxide bonds in the structure of the substance, these substances are unstable and are prone to decomposition reactions when heated, releasing large amounts of heat, which can lead to explosive accidents. Accidents due to organic peroxide explosions are frequent in the chemical industry (Chen et al. 2009; Wang et al. 2001), and the consequences are often severe.