Canadian Flag Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Government of Canada Wordmark
CCOHS: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Français Contact Us Help
        
Canada Site
Web Info Service Products & Services OSH Answers Education & Training
Canada's national Occupational Health & Safety Resource
Home About Us E-News Bringing Health to Work Events Resources
OSH Answers Lists
What's New!
Subject Categories
Aluminum Powder
1-Basic Information on Aluminum Powder
2-Health Effects of Aluminum Powder
3-First Aid for Exposure to Aluminum Powder
4-Working Safely with Aluminum Powder
5-Personal Protective Equipment Information for Aluminum Powder
6-International Hazard Classifications for Aluminum Powder
7-Source of Information on Aluminum Powder
Related Products and Services

Databases:
MSDS
CHEMINFO

Management Systems:
MSDS Management Service
More Information
About OSH Answers
Feedback
Disclaimer
Inquiries Service

The Inquiries Service at CCOHS answers questions on the health or safety concerns people have about the work they do.

About the Inquiries Service
Ask a Question

1-Basic Information on Aluminum Powder

Briefly, what do I need to know about aluminum powder (uncoated) in an emergency situation?
Where do you find aluminum powder (uncoated)?
What should I know about the composition and purity of aluminum powder, uncoated?
What are some synonyms for aluminum powder (uncoated)?
With so many names for aluminum powder (uncoated), is there a unique identifier for this chemical?


Briefly, what do I need to know about aluminum powder (uncoated) in an emergency situation?

Aluminum powder is a light, silvery-white to gray, odourless powder. It is a REACTIVE FLAMMABLE MATERIAL. Moist aluminum powder may ignite in air, with the formation of flammable hydrogen gas. It is also a COMBUSTIBLE DUST. When aluminum powder comes in contact with water, strong acids, strong bases or alcohols, it releases flammable hydrogen gas. It can react violently or explosively with many inorganic and organic chemicals. Aluminum powder is essentially non- toxic following short-term exposure.

Where do you find aluminum powder (uncoated)?

Aluminum powders are used in paints, pigments, protective coatings, printing inks, rocket fuel, explosives, abrasives and ceramics; production of inorganic and organic aluminum chemicals; and as catalysts. Pyro powder is mixed with carbon and used in the manufacture of fireworks. The coarse powder is used in aluminothermics (thermite reaction).

Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust. Because of its strong affinity for oxygen, aluminum never occurs as a metal in nature and is found only in the form of its compounds, for example aluminum oxide.

What should I know about the composition and purity of aluminum powder, uncoated?

Aluminum is normally coated with a layer of aluminum oxide unless the particles are freshly formed. There are two main types of aluminum powder: the "flake" type which is made by stamping the cold metal and the "granulated" type which is made from molten aluminum. Pyro powder is an especially fine type of "flake" powder and is composed of very small particles (less than 1 micrometre (µm) diameter). This chemical profile record contains information for aluminum powders, supplemented with general information for aluminum and its compounds.

The physical properties of aluminum vary significantly according to purity and alloying. The values given in this chemical profile record are for aluminum of a minimum of 99.99% purity.

Some aluminum powders are treated with materials such as stearin to minimize surface oxidation. In addition, some aluminum powders are coated with polystyrene to reduce or eliminate the fire hazard. This review does not address the hazards of coated aluminum powders. For information on these materials, consult your manufacturer/supplier and/or the material safety data sheet (MSDS).

What are some synonyms for aluminum powder (uncoated)?

Aluminum powder (uncoated) is also known as aluminum powder, aluminum, aluminum flake, aluminum metal, metana.

With so many names for aluminum powder (uncoated), is there a unique identifier for this chemical?

Its CAS Registry Number is 7429-90-5. This number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) in the United States and is used as a unique identifier number world-wide.

Document last updated on February 19, 1999

Copyright ©1997-2008 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety


Important Notices and Disclaimers
©CCOHS, 2008
Technical Support
 
Client Services
Products & services info
Inquiries Service
Answers to workplace questions
Webmaster
Website feedback