Aluminum powder explosion accidents occurred frequently

but the mechanism of aluminum powder explosion is unclear. Therefore

the inhibitive effect of aluminum powder explosion plays a key role. To evaluate the inhibition capacity of different kinds of carbonates and phosphates: NaH

2

PO

4

(NH

4

)

2

HPO

4

NH

4

H

2

PO

4

KHCO

3

and NaHCO

3

on aluminum deflagrations

a standard 20-L spherical chamber was used to determine the explosion severity

characterized by the maximum explosion pressure (

P

max

). New parameters have been proposed: the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC)

which characterized the effect of inert. Experimental results showed that from the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC)

phosphate can have a significant inhibiting effect. 40% NaH

2

PO

4

can totally inert the aluminum explosion

and 50% (NH

4

)

2

HPO

4

or 50% NH

4

H

2

PO

4

can also suppress the explosion. Through

simulation

phosphate mainly acts

via

a chemical inhibition pathway

which inhibits the reaction of aluminum powder and oxygen by catalyzing the recombination of H atoms and O atoms. Carbonate performs inhibition in chemically

producing CO

2

diluting the oxygen around the aluminum powder. Studies indicated that the explosion pressure of the mixture decreases as the concentration of inert dust increases. However

when the concentration of carbonates was low

SEEP (suppressant enhanced explosion parameter) phenomenon was found. This research work has a potential industrial application in high hazard aluminum working condition

which can help decrease the explosion pressure and reduce the accident loss.