Chemical Properties
The aluminum alkyls are highly flammable and reactive, colorless to yellow liquids at room temperature. The lighter trialkylaluminums ignite spontaneously in air. They are normally supplied and used in a 20% solution with a hydrocarbon solvent, such as hexane, heptane, benzene, toluene. Properties may depend on solvent. Reacts violently with water.
Chemical Properties
clear colorless liquid
General Description
Appearance and odor vary depending upon the specific aluminum compound (NIOSH 1997). Generally, a colorless, pyrophoric liquid.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Spontaneously flammable in air. Explodes violently in water [Rose 1961].
Reactivity Profile
Hydrides, such as TRI-N-PROPYLALUMINIUM, are reducing agents and react rapidly and dangerously with oxygen and with other oxidizing agents, even weak ones. Thus, they are likely to ignite on contact with alcohols. Hydrides are incompatible with acids, alcohols, amines, and aldehydes.
Safety Profile
Pyrophoric, moisturesensitive,
flammable solid. Danger from
spontaneous combustion. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Al.
Potential Exposure
Alkyl aluminum compounds are used as components of olefin polymerization catalysts. They are also used in the synthesis of higher primary alcohols and in pyrophoric fuels, as a catalyst in making ethylene gas; and in plating aluminum.
Shipping
ntial fire or explosion hazard. Shipping: UN3399 Organometallic substance, liquid, water-reactive, flammable, Hazard Class: 4.3; Labels: 4.3
Dangerous Dangerous when wet material, 3-Flammable liquid, technical name Required. UN3051-Spontaneously combustible. Also, this material is dangerous when wet. (Note: this number does not appear in the 49/CFR HazMat tables).
Incompatibilities
The lighter trialkylaluminums ignite spontaneously in air; can self-heat in the air at room temperature without any added energy and may ignite. These compounds are strong reducing agents. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Incompatible with water, oxygen (air), acids, alcohols, phenols, amines, carbon dioxide; sulfur oxides; halogenated compounds, and many other substances
Waste Disposal
Careful incineration
