Aluminum and Halogenated Hydrocarbons 1

[Vidaman]

I have noticed a common warning on certain types of equipment cautioning against using halogenated hydrocarbons with aluminum components, especially pressure equipment.

What is the specific reaction that takes place between aluminum and halogentated hydrocarbons? The only thing I can imagine is some kind of corrosive reaction that liberates hydrogen gas.

Can anyone shed some light on the nature of this reaction?

Thanks,

-Mike

 

[reiser]

Not hydrogen, just massive amounts of aluminum chloride at rates that will knock your socks off (and possibly start a fire).

Archer and Simpson, "Chemical Profile of Polychoroethanes and Polychloroalkenes," Ind. Eng. Chem., Prod. Res. Dev., Vol. 16, No. 2, 1977, pp 158-162, showed that a number of dry polychlorinated solvents could completely consume a 20x150x2 mm coupon in 65ml of solvent in 7 days at the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent.

They also mention that a worker was killed (1950 or earlier) when a ball mill containing finely divided aluminum and CCl4 exploded -- clean (oxide free) aluminum surfaces and CCl4 are a nasty combination.

Water can help or hurt the metal loss situation.

 

[Vidaman]

Reiser,

Thanks for the info. I also received some detailed info from the Aluminum Association. The article they sent also stated that the reaction can be autocatalytic. Definitely not something to mess around with.

Thanks again,

-Mike