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From: reinhardnmisidor**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Silane Fire and Explosion
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2015 19:39:05 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 65B1AC8C-8AB9-4E5F-BB73-5DBB3F315543**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
In-Reply-To <08ABAA77F6173E45A8E4896382F217BB99C6F01B**At_Symbol_Here**DIT-MBX01V.CCCD.ADX>


While I do not have all of the detail of the explosion it sounds as if it's possibly from polysiloxane byproducts, which are known to be unstable, including pyrophoric and explosive.  These products have a history in the semiconductor industry.  Anyone using silane should look at the safety procedures followed by the semiconductor industry.  The Semiconductor Safety Handbook gives a clue.
Semiconductor Safety Handbook 

Safety and Health in the Semiconductor Industry

Edited by:Richard A. Bolmen, Jr. 
ISBN: 978-0-8155-1418-3


The third chapter gives a clue:


Semiconductor Safety Handbook

1998, Pages 187-203doi:10.1016/B978-081551418-3.50009-6

3. Chemical Hazards in Semiconductor Operations

Publisher Summary

Some materials used in semiconductor operations are highly toxic. Dopant gases such as arsine and phosphine can kill at low concentrations. Corrosives such as hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen peroxide can cause serious damage to eyes and skin. Often they are used in high concentrations at elevated temperatures to increase their efficacy, further aggravating the danger to the worker. By-product materials that must be removed from tooling and fixtures can be carcinogenic, like arsenic. Other products of reaction can be caught in cold traps and cause explosions. The breadth and complexity of the chemistry underlying semiconductor operations merits careful examination and effective worker training. The proper use of engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and knowledge of correct use procedures are imperative in the high-tech, high-energy world of semiconductors.

Reinhard Sidor, ScD

GE Corp. R&D-retired






Sent from my iPad

On Oct 6, 2015, at 4:56 PM, Schreyer, Cecilia <cschreyer**At_Symbol_Here**OCC.CCCD.EDU> wrote:

Silane is SiH4.

SiO2 is silicone dioxide.

Which are we talking about?

 

 

Cecilia

 

 

 

     Cecilia M. Schreyer

     Instructional Associate, Chemistry

     President, Classified Senate

     Orange Coast College

     2701 Fairview Road - Costa Mesa, CA 92626

     Office: 714.432.5848

     Email: cschreyer**At_Symbol_Here**occ.cccd.edu

     www.orangecoastcollege.edu

 

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of NEAL LANGERMAN
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 1:51 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Silane Fire and Explosion

 

From Eugene Ngai, the Silane Guru-

Forwarded by Neal Langerman

 

From: ehs.grapevine**At_Symbol_Here**semi.org [mailto:ehs.grapevine**At_Symbol_Here**semi.org] On Behalf Of Eugene Ngai
Sent: Saturday, October 3, 2015 12:36 PM
To: 'Semi Grapevine' <ehs.grapevine**At_Symbol_Here**semi.org>
Subject: SEMI EHS GRAPEVINE - Silane Fire and Explosion

 

FYI. Sunedison Pasadena TX which was formerly MEMC had a silane explosion and fire injuring 4 people. This occurred during a line break. I am trying to get more details. As luck would have it, I'm presenting on Pyrophoric Materials on Oct 23 at the Hotzone HazMat Conference in Houston.

 

A month ago in another silane related incident, a user used an industrial vacuum cleaner to vacuum SiO2 particles from a baghouse. This exploded severely burning the worker.. SiO2 particles can develop a significant charge, in addition some are not fully oxidized.

 

These are reminders that we all must be careful when handling silane.

 

Eugene Y. Ngai

Chemically Speaking LLC

www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com

 

 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ehs.grapevine+unsubscribe**At_Symbol_Here**semi.org.

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