Recently, azobisisoheptonitrile has once again come into the public eye. This chemical substance, with the English name 2,2′-Azobis-(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), appears as white crystals, with a melting point ranging from 40 to 70℃. It is an oil-soluble initiator with an activation energy of 122 KJ/mol. It is soluble in organic solvents such as methanol, toluene and acetone, but insoluble in water. The decomposition temperature at a 10-hour half-life is 51℃ (in toluene).
Azobisisoheptonitrile is mainly used in bulk polymerization, suspension polymerization and solution polymerization, and is widely applied in industrial production and scientific research. Since its decomposition is almost entirely a first-order reaction, forming only one kind of free radical without side reactions, it is relatively stable in nature and convenient for storage and transportation. However, it should be noted that during transportation, it needs to be refrigerated and protected from severe friction and collision, otherwise it may cause an explosion.
Recalling the early morning of July 22, 2011, a double-decker sleeper coach traveling from Weihai, Shandong to Changsha, Hunan on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway suddenly caught fire. The fire was so fierce that it burned the coach to an empty shell. This tragedy claimed 41 lives and injured 6 people, with 1 person seriously injured. After investigation, the cause of the accident was the illegal carriage and transportation of the flammable chemical product azobisisoheptonitrile on the accident vehicle. These dangerous chemicals suddenly exploded and burned under the action of factors such as extrusion, friction and heat release from the engine, leading to this tragic incident. Subsequently, the relevant responsible persons were arrested and criminally detained in accordance with the law. In December 2013, the Intermediate People’s Court of Xinyang City, Henan Province made a first-instance judgment on this accident case, sentencing the relevant responsible persons to corresponding penalties for the crimes of endangering public safety by dangerous means and major liability accidents.
This incident has sounded the alarm for the safety of transportation and use of azobisisoheptonitrile. Relevant enterprises and personnel must strictly abide by relevant regulations when operating azobisisoheptonitrile, ensure that the transportation and storage conditions meet the requirements, and avoid the recurrence of similar tragedies. At the same time, the public should also enhance their understanding of dangerous chemicals and raise their safety awareness.
Post time: Feb-14-2025
