Arson

The Phenomenon of
Spontaneous Combustion
CRI 189
DAY 10
WHAT IS SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION?
Is the phenomenon in which a hydrocarbon (or a chemical

substance) substance unexpectedly bursts into flame without
apparent cause.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
Is a sometimes mysterious and often misunderstood or
misdiagnosed combustion of flammable materials. Many fires have
been blamed on spontaneous combustion that were not and many
fires that were caused by spontaneous combustion were not
properly attributed.
Certainly, fire investigators and hazardous materials personnel - if

not all firefighters - should know about the concept of spontaneous
combustion, the types of materials that may undergo such a reaction
and the conditions necessary for it to happen.
According to
the Handbook of Fire Prevention Engineering,
Spontaneous combustion
"is a runaway temperature rise in a body of combustible

material that results from heat being generated by some
process taking place within the body".
It may be rapid or slow. Materials involved can be

chemical, elements, or hydrocarbon compounds or a
mixture.
Slow Spontaneous Combustion
Slow spontaneous combustion can occur in two general ways:

biological processes of some microorganisms and slow
oxidation.
Biological processes occur within organic materials such

as hay and grass clippings. The activity of biological organisms
within the material generates heat that is confined by the
materials themselves until the ignition temperature is reached
and ignition occurs.
Slow oxidation is a chemical reaction. Chemical
reactions may produce heat; reactions that produce heat
are considered exothermic. If the heat is insulated from
dissipating to the outside of the materials, it will continue
to build up. As the heat builds, the material is heated from
within. The process continues until the ignition
temperature of the material is reached and ignition occurs.
Hydrocarbon compounds
It usually undergo slow spontaneous combustion.
Generally, hydrocarbon compounds are considered

saturated or unsaturated.
Saturated compounds
all of the chemical bonds among the elements in
the compound are single.
Single bonds are "full," for there isn't
room or a method for another element to attach.
Unsaturated compound
Is a double or triple bonds. In other words, the
double bond can break, and when it does, another
element can attach.
Spontaneous ignition occurs when this double
or triple bond breaks and creates heat and the
heat is confined. The material itself produces heat
sufficient to reach its own ignition temperature.
Hydrocarbon compounds
SINGLE BOND DOUBLE/TRIPLE BOND
Some materials subject to spontaneous combustion
are not considered hazardous in transit by the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) and may not be
placarded or labeled. Flammable solids, Class 4.2
materials are spontaneously combustible. The DOT
defines them as pyrophoric materials.
Spontaneous combustion is considered rapid.
Even though this hazard class is flammable solids, these
materials may be found as solids or liquids. They can ignite
without an external ignition source within five minutes after
coming into contact with air. There are other 4.2 materials that
may be self-heating, in contact with air and without an energy
supply (ignition source); they are liable to self-heat, which can
result in a fire involving the material or other combustibles
nearby.
Materials can also spontaneously combust when in contact
with water.
When some carbon-based materials, such as
activated carbon charcoal briquettes
are in contact with water, an oxidation reaction occurs

between the carbon material, the water, and pockets of
trapped air.
Materials subject to spontaneous heating:
Peanut oil Castor oil Charcoal
Fish oil Animal hides Fertilizer

Materials subject to spontaneous heating:
Alfalfa meal, Animal hides,Castor oil, Charcoal, Coal Cottonseed oil,

Fertilizers, Fish meal, Fish oil, Lanolin, Lard oil, Linseed oil, Manure,
Metal powders, Olive oil, Peanut oil, Powdered eggs, Soybean oil,
Used burlap, Whale oil
There is a double bond in the chemical make-up of
animal and vegetable oils that reacts with oxygen in the air.
The oxygen from the air trapped in the mass reacts with the
double bonds present in the animal and vegetable oils.
The breaking of the double bonds creates heat. If the

heat is allowed to build up in a pile of rags.
Spontaneous heating cannot occur in the case of petroleum oils or
other hydrocarbon materials that are have a double bond in their
chemical make-up.
For that reason, the oxidation reaction that occurs with saturated.
Ordinary petroleum products, such as motor oil, grease, diesel fuel and
gasoline, do not animal and vegetable oils and the oxygen in the air
does not occur.
Therefore, those materials do not undergo spontaneous

combustion!
COMMON MATERIALS THAT BY CHEMICAL NATURE ARE
SUBJECT TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
➔ It is an organo-metal compound and a dangerous fire hazard.

➔ It spontaneously ignites in air and reacts violently with water,
releasing flammable vapors and heat.
Diethyl zinc ➔ It is a colorless pyrophoric liquid with a specific gravity of 1.2,
which is heavier than water, so it will sink to the bottom.
➔ It is a non-metallic, colorless liquid with a pungent odor.

➔ It decomposes at 300F if it has not already ignited and will ignite
Pentaborane spontaneously in air if impure.
➔ It is a dangerous fire and explosion risk, with a flammable
range of 0.46 to 98% in air.
➔ colorless liquids or solids.

Aluminum ➔ they are pyrophoric and may ignite spontaneously in air.
Alkyls are pyrophoric materials in a flammable solvent.
➔ the vapors are heavier than air, water reactive and corrosive.
➔ is a binary salt
Aluminum ➔ these salts have the specific hazard of giving off poisonous
and pyrophoric phosphine gas when in contact with air.
Phosphide ➔ this compound is composed of gray or dark yellow crystals and
is a dangerous fire risk.
➔ a binary salt.
➔ it is a red or yellow-red crystalline mass or fused solid.
Potassium ➔ it is delinquency to in air, which means it absorbs water from
Sulfide the air, and it is also soluble in water.
➔ it is a dangerous fire risk and may ignite spontaneously
➔ it is explosive in the form of dust and powder,
➔ is a binary salt that has a specific hazard of releasing hydrogen

Sodium in contact with water.
hydride ➔ it is an odourless powder that is violently water reactive.
➔ also known as yellow phosphorus, is a non-metallic element

that is found in the form of crystals or a wax-like transparent
solid.
White ➔ it ignites spontaneously in air at 86F, which is also its
Phosphorus ignition temperature.

➔ it should be stored and shipped under water and away from
heat.
➔ it is a dangerous fire risk, with a boiling point of 536F and a
melting point of 111F.
Thank You For Listening

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The Phenomenon of

Is the phenomenon in which a hydrocarbon (or a chemical

Certainly, fire investigators and hazardous materials personnel - if

"is a runaway temperature rise in a body of combustible

It may be rapid or slow. Materials involved can be

Slow spontaneous combustion can occur in two general ways:

Biological processes occur within organic materials such

Generally, hydrocarbon compounds are considered

When some carbon-based materials, such as

activated carbon charcoal briquettes

are in contact with water, an oxidation reaction occurs

Peanut oil Castor oil Charcoal

Fish oil Animal hides Fertilizer

Alfalfa meal, Animal hides,Castor oil, Charcoal, Coal Cottonseed oil,

The breaking of the double bonds creates heat. If the

Therefore, those materials do not undergo spontaneous

➔ It is an organo-metal compound and a dangerous fire hazard.

➔ It is a non-metallic, colorless liquid with a pungent odor.

➔ colorless liquids or solids.

➔ is a binary salt that has a specific hazard of releasing hydrogen

➔ also known as yellow phosphorus, is a non-metallic element

White ➔ it ignites spontaneously in air at 86F, which is also its

Phosphorus ignition temperature.

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