DUST AS EXPLOSIVE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3466, 21 April 1920, Page 5

DUST AS EXPLOSIVE.

The explosion which wrecked an Edinburgh cork factory recently was probably caused by what is hsually considered as harmless dust, says an English paper. Any dust that will burn can be made to explode under certain conditions. All that is necessary is that there shall be a mixture of air and dust in definite proportions.

Some years ago three flour mills were destroyed as the result of a mysterious explosion, and experiments subsequently carried out left no possibility of doubt but that the flour dust was the cause. Itwas demonstrated that tWo ounces of flour dust in {L box containing two cubic feet of air could be exploded with sufficient force to upset two big men Standing on the lid. From which it Was calculated that about 200l«b-. of flour dust ignited in'4ooo- gieet or air would throws. weight of 2500 tons to a height of 100 ft.