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Nitroglycerine Likely Cause of CW Fires
The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency said nitroglycerin “sweating” from rocket propellant in M55 rockets containing chemical agent is believed to have ignited fires at U.S. weapons incinerators, the Oregonian reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 3). Investigators found no definitive cause for the fires in their inquiry of 21 fires. Researchers discovered liquid beads of nitroglycerin on all of nine rockets taken from the Umatilla Chemical Depot I Oregon and from six of nine taken from the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. The beads were found on the rocket propellant cylinders, which contain fuel that is one-quarter nitroglycerine. The substance seems to move to the surface of the fuel, where it is trapped. Researchers don’t think any more will leak out over time. The fires happen apparently at random, when a bead of nitroglycerine is stuck by a blade while the rocket is being cut into pieces, according to the Oregonian. Researchers expect 15 more fires at the various incinerators before the M55 rockets are fully eliminated. Incinerators working with the rockets have begun spraying more water on the rockets and have improved explosion detection and fire suppression systems Andy Dworkin, Oregonian, Feb. 23).
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