Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
Definition: the minimum energy that can ignite a mixture of a specified flammable material with air or oxygen, measured by a standard procedure.
Depending on the specific application, there are several standard procedures for determining minimum ignition energy (MIE) of dust clouds, solvent vapours and gases. The common element in all procedures is that the energy is generated by an electrostatic spark discharge released from a capacitive electrical circuit. The exact circuit components and the arrangement of electrodes between which sparks are generated are the principle differences between the methods. In the following table MIE is quoted for flammable substances mixed with air. A reference is provided to indicate the source of the data. MIE values are provided for guidance only. Please check references for specific measurement conditions. Texene LLC makes no claims for the accuracy of the data and accepts no liability for any use of the data.
References
1. Haase, H. (1977) Electrostatic Hazards, Their Evaluation and Control, Verlag, Chemie, Weinheim.
2. Berufsgenossenschaften, Richtlinien Statische Elektrizität, ZH1/200 (1980), Bonn. Buschman, C.H. (1962) De Veiligheid 38: 20-28.
3. Babrauskak, V. (2003) Ignition Handbook, Fire Science Publishers, Issaquah, WA.
4. Bisphenol-A: A Safety & Handling Guide, Publication Number AE-154, Bisphenol-A Global Industry Group.
A-B
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | 30 | 3 | acetaldehyde | 0.37 | 1 | acetaldehyde | 0.36 | 3 |
| acetone | 1.15 | 1 | acetyl cellulose | 15 | 1 | acetylene | 0.017 | 1 |
| acrolein | 0.13 | 1 | acrylonitrile | 0.16 | 1 | adipic acid | 60 | 1 |
| alfalfa meal | 320-5100 | 3 | allyl chloride | 0.78 | 3 | aluminium | 50 | 1 |
| aluminium stearate | 15 | 1 | ammonia | 680 | 2 | antimony | 1920 | 3 |
| aspirin | 25-30 | 3 | aziridine | 0.48 | 2 | benzene | 0.20 | 1 |
| benzene | 0.22 | 3 | bisphenol-A | 1.8 | 4 | black powder | 320 | 3 |
| boron | 60 | 3 | 1,3-butadiene | 0.13 | 1 | butane | 0.25 | 1 |
| butane | 0.26 | 3 | n-butyl chloride | 0.33 | 3 |
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C
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cadmium | 4000 | 3 | carbon monoxide | <0.3 | 2 | carbon disulphide | 0.009 | 1 |
| carbon disulphide | 0.015 | 3 | casein | 60 | 1 | cellulose | 35 | 1 |
| cellulose acetate | 20-50 | 3 | charcoal | 20 | 3 | chromium | 140 | 3 |
| cinnamon | 30 | 1 | coal | 40 | 1 | coal, pittsburg | 250 | 3 |
| cocoa | 100 | 1 | cocoa | 100-180 | 3 | coffee | 160 | 3 |
| copal | 30 | 1 | cork powder | 45 | 1 | cork powder | 35-100 | 3 |
| corn meal | 40 | 1 | corn flour | 20 | 1 | corn starch | 30-60 | 3 |
| cotton (filler) | 25 | 1 | cotton linters | 1920 | 3 | cyclohexane | 0.22 | 1 |
| cyclopentane | 0.54 | 1 | cyclopentane | 0.24 | 3 | 1,3-cyclopentadiene | 0.67 | 1 |
| cyclopropane | 0.17 | 1 | cyclopropane | 0.18 | 3 |
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D
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dextrine | 40 | 1 | dichlorosilane | 0.015 | 3 | diethyl ether | 0.19 | 1 |
| diethyl ether | 0.2 | 3 | 2,3-dihydropyran | 0.36 | 1 | diisobutylene | 0.96 | 2 |
| diisopropyl ether | 1.14 | 1 | dimethoxymethane | 0.42 | 3 | dimethyl amine | <0.3 | 2 |
| 2,2-dimethyl butane | 0.25 | 1 | dimethyl ether | 0.29 | 1 | 2,2-dimethyl propane | 1.57 | 1 |
| dimethyl sulphide | 0.5 | 2 | dimethyl sulphide | 0.48 | 3 | dinitrobenzamide | 45 | 3 |
| dinitrobenzoic acid | 45 | 3 | dinitro-sym-diphenylurea | 60 | 3 | dinitrotoluamide | 15 | 3 |
| dioxane | <0.3 | 2 | di-(tert)-butylperoxide | 0.5 | 2 | di-(tert)-butylperoxide | 0.41 | 3 |
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E-H
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| epoxy resin | 15 | 1 | ethane | 0.24 | 1 | ethane | 0.26 | 3 |
| ethene | 0.07 | 2 | ether | 0.19 | 2 | ethyl acetate | 1.42 | 1 |
| ethyl amine | 2.4 | 1 | ethyl cellulose | 10 | 1 | ethyl chloride | <0.3 | 2 |
| ethylene | 0.07 | 3 | ethylene oxide | 0.06 | 1 | ethylene oxide | 0.065 | 2 |
| ethylene oxide | 0.062 | 3 | flour, cake | 25-80 | 3 | furan | 0.22 | 1 |
| gasoline | 0.8 | 3 | grain dust | 30 | 3 | grass seed | 60-260 | 3 |
| hemp | 30 | 1 | heptane | 0.24 | 1 | hexamethylenetetramine | 10 | 1 |
| hexane | 0.24 | 1 | hexane | 0.29 | 3 | hydrogen | 0.011 | 1 |
| hydrogen | 0.017 | 3 | hydrogen sulphide | 0.068 | 1 | hydrogen sulphide | 0.077 | 3 |
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I-M
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| isooctane | 1.35 | 1 | isopentane | 0.21 | 1 | isopentane | 0.25 | 3 |
| isopropyl alcohol | 0.65 | 1 | isopropyl amine | 2.0 | 1 | isopropyl chloride | 1.55 | 1 |
| isopropyl chloride | 1.08 | 3 | isopropyl ether | 1.14 | 2 | isopropyl mercaptan | 0.53 | 1 |
| lignin | 20 | 1 | lycopodium | 50 | 3 | magnesium | 80 | 1 |
| magnesium | 40 | 3 | manganese | 305 | 3 | melamine formaldehyde | 50-320 | 3 |
| methane | 0.28 | 1 | methane | 0.3 | 3 | methanol | 0.14 | 1 |
| methyl acteylene | 0.11 | 1 | methyl acetylene | 0.115 | 3 | methylal | 0.5 | 2 |
| methyl cyclohexane | 0.27 | 1 | methylene chloride | 10000 | 1 | methyl ethyl ketone | 0.53 | 1 |
| methylformate | 0.5 | 2 | methylmethacrylate | 15 | 1 |
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N-P
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nitrostarch | 40 | 3 | nylon | 20 | 1 | nylon | 20-30 | 3 |
| paper dust | 20-60 | 3 | paraformaldehyde | 20 | 1 | pentaerythritol | 10 | 1 |
| pentane | 0.22 | 1 | 2-pentene | 0.18 | 1 | petroleum ether (benzine) | 0.25 | 3 |
| phenol formaldehyde | 10-6000 | 3 | phosphorus (red) | 0.2 | 1 | phthalic anhydride | 15 | 1 |
| PMMA | 15-20 | 3 | polyacrylonitrile | 20 | 3 | polycarbonate | 25 | 1 |
| polyethylene | 10 | 1 | polyethylene | 70 | 3 | polyethylene teraphthalate | 35 | 3 |
| polypropylene | 25-400 | 3 | polystyrene | 40-120 | 3 | polyvinyl acetate | 160 | 3 |
| polyvinyl acetate alcohol | 120 | 3 | polyvinyl butyral | 10 | 3 | potato starch | 20 | 1 |
| potato starch | 25 | 3 | propane | 0.25 | 1 | propane | 0.26 | 3 |
| propene | 0.28 | 2 | propionaldehyde | 0.4 | 2 | propylchloride | 1.08 | 1 |
| propylene | 0.28 | 1 | propylene oxide | 0.13 | 1 | propylene oxide | 0.14 | 3 |
| pyrethrum | 80 | 3 |
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Q-T
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rayon | 240 | 3 | rice | 40 | 1 | rice | 40-120 | 3 |
| rubber (hard) | 30 | 1 | SAN | 30 | 3 | shellac | 10 | 1 |
| silicon | 100 | 3 | soap | 60 | 1 | soap | 60-120 | 3 |
| soy flour | 100-460 | 3 | sugar | 30 | 1 | sulphur | 15 | 1 |
| tantalum | 120 | 3 | tetrafluoroethylene | 3.5 | 3 | tetrahydrofuran | 0.54 | 1 |
| tetrahydropyran | 0.22 | 1 | thiophene | 0.39 | 1 | thorium | 5 | 1 |
| tin | 80 | 3 | titanium | 40 | 1 | titanium | 25 | 3 |
| TNT | 75 | 3 | toluene | 0.24 | 3 | trichloroethylene | 295 | 3 |
| triethyl amine | 0.75 | 1 | triethyl amine | 1.15 | 3 | 2,2,3-trimethyl butane | 1.0 | 1 |
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U-Z
| Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. | Substance | MIE (mJ) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uranium | 45 | 1 | urea formaldehyde | 80-1280 | 3 | vanadium | 60 | 3 |
| vinyl acetate | 0.7 | 1 | vinyl acetylene | 0.082 | 1 | vinyl chloride | <0.3 | 2 |
| wheat flour | 50 | 1 | wheat starch | 20 | 1 | wheat starch | 25-60 | 3 |
| wood bark | 40-60 | 3 | wood (filler) | 20 | 1 | wood flour | 30-40 | 3 |
| m-, o- & p-xylene | 0.2 | 3 | yeast | 50 | 3 | zinc | 960 | 3 |
| zirconium | 5 | 1 | zirconium | 15 | 3 |
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References
1. Haase, H. (1977) Electrostatic Hazards, Their Evaluation and Control, Verlag, Chemie, Weinheim.
2. Berufsgenossenschaften, Richtlinien Statische Elektrizität, ZH1/200 (1980), Bonn. Buschman, C.H. (1962) De Veiligheid 38: 20-28.
3. Babrauskak, V. (2003) Ignition Handbook, Fire Science Publishers, Issaquah, WA.
4. Bisphenol-A: A Safety & Handling Guide, Publication Number AE-154, Bisphenol-A Global Industry Group.