Azo compounds are self-reactive chemicals that violently produce flammable gases with heat release (i.e., an exothermic reaction). However, the explosion mechanism and ignition probability of azo compounds have not been clearly defined for storage or transportation. In this study, explosion scene analyses and various pyrolysis tests were performed to evaluate the thermal decomposition characteristics and explosion phenomena of azo compounds in a storage facility. The chemical debris collected from a fire scene was determined to be similar to the pyrolyzate of one of the tested azo compounds used by Py-GCMS. The minimum amounts of azo compounds, which could be ignited by self-decomposition heat, were calculated from the results of differential scanning calorimetrys and the heat transfer equation. The results were used to discuss a safety and response strategy for preventing the propagation of an explosion accident, namely a chemical backdraft.

偶氮化合物是自反应性化学物质，会在放热时剧烈产生可燃气体（即放热反应）。但是，尚未明确定义偶氮化合物的爆炸机理和着火可能性，以用于储存或运输。在这项研究中，进行了爆炸场景分析和各种热解测试，以评估存储设施中偶氮化合物的热分解特性和爆炸现象。确定从火灾现场收集的化学碎片与Py-GCMS使用的一种测试偶氮化合物的热解产物相似。从差示扫描量热法和传热方程的结果计算出可通过自分解热点燃的最小量的偶氮化合物。