Description
Pure tetraethyl lead is a
colourless liquid with a characteristic odour and is a viscous liquid that is highly lipophilic
and soluble in fats, oils, and lipids as well as gasoline and other nonpolar hydrocarbons.
Tetraethyl lead is commonly abbreviated as TEL. Tetraethyl lead is an organolead compound,
and it improves the efficiency and performance of internal combustion engines
and is an inexpensive additive to gasoline (petrol) since 1920 and allows octane ratings and
engine compression to be boosted significantly, increasing power and fuel economy. The use
of tetraethyl lead was largely discontinued because of the toxicity of lead and its deleterious
effect on catalytic converters.
Chemical Properties
hexagonal platelets. Lead styphnate varies in colour from yellow to brown. There are two forms of lead styphnate. The longer and narrower the crystals, the more susceptible lead styphnate is to static electricity. Lead styphnate is particularly sensitive to fire and the discharge of static electricity. Lead styphnate does not react with metals and is less sensitive to shock and friction. Lead styphnate is only slightly soluble in water and methyl alcohol. It is stable in storage, even at elevated temperatures. Lead styphnate is derived from styphnic acid and is used in explosive mixtures.
Uses
Lead Styphnate is an explosive compound used in primers and detonator mixtures for less sensitive secondary explosives.
General Description
A slurry or wet mass of orange-yellow crystals. Must be shipped wet with at least 20% water or water and denatured ethyl alcohol mixture. May explode due to shock, heat, flame, or friction if dried. Used as an initiating explosive. The primary hazard is the blast of an instantaneous explosion and not flying projectiles and fragments.
Reactivity Profile
LEAD STYPHNATE is a weak but highly sensitive explosive. An employee removing a beaker of lead styphnate from a laboratory oven caused a detonation when he bumped the beaker on the side of the oven [MCA Case History 957, 1966]. Three kilograms of lead styphnate exploded from an unknown cause. Wet material in two adjacent dry rooms did not detonate [Chem. Abs. 26:5210. 1932]. May react vigorously with reducing agents.
Health Hazard
Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
Fire Hazard
MAY EXPLODE AND THROW FRAGMENTS 1600 meters (1 MILE) OR MORE IF FIRE REACHES CARGO.
