Xref: utzoo sci.chem:517 sci.med:12669 sci.bio:2367 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!dptg!att!cbnewsm!harris From: harris@cbnewsm.ATT.COM (jonathan.harris) Newsgroups: sci.chem,sci.med,sci.bio Subject: Re: Spraycan blowtorches (was Re: Butane death) Message-ID: <4851@cbnewsm.ATT.COM> Date: 29 Sep 89 12:10:15 GMT References: <1989Sep28.170222.15851@vicom.com> Reply-To: harris@cbnewsm.ATT.COM (jonathan.harris,mh,) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 14 In article <1989Sep28.170222.15851@vicom.com> lmb@vicom.COM (Larry Blair) writes: +No way it could explode. All of the combustion is taking place when the +atomized mist mixes with the air. To explode, there would have to be +an oxidant inside the can. Even in a fire, the explosion would be from +the increased internal pressure, not from combustion. This is a dangerous misconception. There are cases of people being badly burned and even fatally while trying to use an aerosol can torch. Would you bet your face(or your life) that air has not been inadvertently pumped into the can during the manufactoring stage? These aren't designed as torches so it is unlikely manufacturers take special precautions to insure no air gets in the can. --------------------------------------------------------- Jonathan Harris research.att.com!allwise!harris AT&T does not endorse anything said above.