Reaction hazards of triethylaluminum under closed conditions

We evaluate the reaction hazards of triethylaluminum (TEA) under closed conditions for safe treatment of aluminum alkyls. The explosive reactions of TEA are difficult to be estimated using thermal analysis because the estimate reactions are too slow under these conditions. The results of our closed vessel tests and chemical equilibrium calculations show that the TEA and water system mixture in closed conditions decomposes into lower-molecular-weight compounds than the products by using well-known hydrolysis of TEA. The present work also demonstrates that large temperature and pressure increases could occur because of the existence of TEA and aluminum hydroxide. Since aluminum hydroxide contains water as alumina hydrates, aluminum hydroxide could have been the source of water at high temperatures and could have contributed to the mixed reaction between TEA and water.

► We evaluated the reaction hazards of triethylaluminum (TEA) under closed conditions.
► The TEA and H2O mixture decomposed into lower-molecular-weight compounds.
► These compounds are lower weight than the products by well-known hydrolysis.
► Large temperature and pressure increases could occur in the presence of Al(OH)3.
► Al(OH)3 possibly became the source of water supply at high temperatures.