Fire hazard of titanium powder layers mixed with inert nano TiO₂ powder

Metallic dust layers are highly sensitive to ignition from common ignition sources, even when mixed with high percentages of inert solids. In turn, dust layer fires are a potential ignition source for dust explosions or other damaging fires. Flame spread velocity (FSV), as a potential parameter for evaluating fire hazard, was investigated for titanium powder layers mixed with inert nano TiO₂ powder in both natural convection and in forced airflow conditions. Increased mass percentage of nano TiO₂ powder decreased FSV of Ti powder mixtures as expected. The mixing ratio of nano TiO₂ to fully suppress layer fires was 80% and 90% for micro and nano Ti powder, respectively. Mechanisms governing flame spread across a layer of nano Ti powder differed from those of a layer of micro Ti powder. FSV in no airflow conditions was higher than in aided airflow for micro Ti powder because conduction was the dominant heat transfer mechanism. However, FSV in no airflow was lower than in opposed airflow for nano Ti powder because convection/radiation was the dominant heat transfer mechanism. A fly fire phenomenon contributed to greater FSVs and higher fire hazard with nano Ti powder mixtures under aided airflow conditions.