ABSTRACT
Micron-sized powders are often used in chemical plants. Dust explosions may occur during a number of chemical unit operations, such as air conveying, grinding, and centrifugal separation. If the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of a powder is less than 30 mJ, measures to control the static electricity related disasters need to be implemented by the factories (Dahn and Dastidar, 2002). If the MIE of a powder is less than 10 mJ, the powder is classied as a very sensitive material and the probability of a great explosion caused by static electricity increases. For example, a methyl methacrylate, butadiene, and styrene (MBS, MIE = 4 mJ) micron powder mediated dust explosion, caused by static electricity, occurred in Taiwan in a material entrance process, resulting in a casualty (Figure 203).
