ASTM E2012-06
(Guide)Standard Guide for the Preparation of a Binary Chemical Compatibility Chart
Standard Guide for the Preparation of a Binary Chemical Compatibility Chart
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Various United States governmental regulations forbid incompatible materials to be transported together and require that chemical reactivity be considered in process hazard and risk analysis. A chemical compatibility chart is one tool to be used to satisfy these regulations. Binary compatibility charts are useful teaching tools in general education, in the chemical plant or laboratory, and for areas and operations where commonly performed tasks might lead to chemical mixtures such as might occur during co-shipment in compartmentalized containers, storage in a common area or compositing waste. Compatibility information is essential during process hazard reviews (for example, HAZOP). These charts may provide guidance to terminal operators on DOT HM-183 that requires that materials on adjacent compartments of multicompartment tank trucks are compatible. They provide documentation that the potential for inadvertent mixing as a potential source of heat and gas evolution from chemical reactions has been considered in sizing relief devices. Compatibility charts serve as check lists for use during process hazard reviews, and the preparation of the chart itself often brings attention to potential hazards that were previously unknown.
A binary chart only considers pairs of materials and therefore does not cover all possible combinations of materials in an operation. A common third component, for example, acidic or basic catalysts, may be covered by footnoting the potential for catalysis of a reaction between otherwise compatible materials, but the form of the chart does not ensure this. There may be reactive ternary systems that will escape detection in a binary chart.
The AIChE organization Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) has recommended the use of this standard in one of their recent monographs (1). This work is currently available for free download from: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/reactivechemicals/index.html
SCOPE
1.1 A binary chemical compatibility chart also called inter-reactivity chart, documents the hazards associated with the mixing of pairs of materials. This guide provides an aid for the preparation these charts. It reviews a number of issues that are critical in the preparation of such charts: accurate assessment of chemical compatibility, suitable experimental techniques for gathering compatibility information, incorporation of user-friendliness, and provision for revisions.
1.2 The uses of chemical compatibility charts are summarized in this standard.
1.3 This guide also reviews existing public domain compatibility charts, the differences therein, and their advantages and disadvantages.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: E2012 − 06
StandardGuide for
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the Preparation of a Binary Chemical Compatibility Chart
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2012; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this standard is to provide expert guidance to those interested in the task of
compiling chemical compatibility (inter-reactivity) charts for the purposes of process safety and
reactive chemicals hazard evaluation. This standard does not provide specific answers regarding the
inter-reactivity of specific materials. However, it does provide a detailed framework for developing
charts based on the current best practices of the chemical industry and it directs the user to sources
of reactivity information. It is the E27 Committee’s belief that inter-reactivity charts will be
increasingly used in industry for day-to-day operations, process hazard reviews, employee education,
and emergency response. It is our hope that this standard guide can be useful in that effort.
1. Scope E1231 Practice for Calculation of Hazard Potential Figures-
of-Merit for Thermally Unstable Materials
1.1 A binary chemical compatibility chart also called inter-
PS168 Proposed Guide for Estimating the Incompatibility of
reactivity chart, documents the hazards associated with the
Selected Hazardous Wastes Based on Binary Chemical
mixing of pairs of materials. This guide provides an aid for the
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Reactions
preparation these charts. It reviews a number of issues that are
2.2 NFPA Standard:
critical in the preparation of such charts: accurate assessment
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NFPA 491 Guide to Hazardous Chemical Reactions
of chemical compatibility, suitable experimental techniques for
gathering compatibility information, incorporation of user-
3. Terminology
friendliness, and provision for revisions.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 The uses of chemical compatibility charts are summa-
3.1.1 compatibility, adj—the ability of materials to exist in
rized in this standard.
contact without specified (usually hazardous) consequences
1.3 This guide also reviews existing public domain compat-
under a defined scenario.
ibility charts, the differences therein, and their advantages and
3.1.2 scenario, n—a detailed physical description of the
disadvantages.
process whereby a potential inadvertent combination of mate-
rials may occur.
2. Referenced Documents
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4. Summary of Guide
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E537 Test Method for The Thermal Stability of Chemicals
4.1 Abinarychemicalcompatibilitychartindicateswhether,
by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
under a given set of conditions (the scenario) the combination
E698 Test Method for Arrhenius Kinetic Constants for
of two materials does or does not yield a specified undesired
Thermally Unstable Materials Using Differential Scan-
consequence.
ning Calorimetry and the Flynn/Wall/Ozawa Method
4.2 Asummaryoftheguidefollows.Determinethescenario
for the determination of compatibility and the degree of
reaction that constitutes incompatibility. Both should be iden-
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This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E27 on Hazard
tified in the documentation for the chart. Define the materials
Potential of Chemicals, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E27.02 on
within the scope of the chart. Define the test, calculation or
Thermal Stability and Condensed Phases.
Current edition approved April 1, 2006. Published July 2006. Originally
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E2012 – 00. DOI:
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10.1520/E2012-06. Withdrawn.ThischartwassubsequentlyadoptedbytheU.S.EPAandiswidely
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or available by way of the Internet. For example, it may be viewed here: http://www/
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM sefsc.noaa.gov/HTMLdocs/appendix-H.htm.
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
the ASTM website. Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
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E2012 − 06
judgment that is used to make a decision. List the materials as that chemical reactivity be considered in process hazard and
both columns and rows of a grid. At the intersections of the risk analysis. A chemical compatibility chart is one tool to be
grid note whether the materials are compatible. To avoid
used to satisfy these regulations. Binary
...
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