[ RadSafe ] pyrophoric uranium considered nonessential

[Alan Watts]

James,

"Metal powders, while generally regarded as non-combustible, may burn when 
metal is finely divided and energy input is high."  If energy is needed for 
the ignition of that metal powder then pyrophoric conditions are not met. 
Another words a static state must be met to satisfy that condition.

Alan

--On Tuesday, July 05, 2005 4:59 PM -0700 James Salsman <james at bovik.org> 
wrote:

> Alan Watts wrote:
>
>> ... the MSDS excerpt ... for depleted uranium (DU) ... says that DU is
>> not  pyrophoric per the following definition:  Pyrophoric material is
>> any liquid  or solid that will ignite spontaneously in air below 130
>> degrees F (54.4  degrees C).
>
> When finely divided, as uranium is when a speeding uranium bullet hits
> a hard target, uranium ignites spontaneously in air at room temperature.
>
> http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/1999/04/du/mr1018.7.s
> um.html http://www.reade.com/Products/Elements/uranium.html
> http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/consumer%20products/dupenetrator.htm
>
> When uranium ignites in air, it produces uranyl oxide (UO3) which
> is a reproductive poison and a developmental poison.  Poison
> weapons are illegal.  Weapons which continue to act after a battle
> are illegal.  Weapons which act off the battlefield are illegal.
>
> Sincerely,
> James Salsman
>
>
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