Before you do your DIY fiberglassing....

[Gwalker]

http://www.channel10.com/news/local/...?storyid=35802



The fire was caused by improper mixing of fiberglass resins. For all those DIY people out there wanting to make a large fiberglass tank, this should serve as a good warning. Mixing fiberglass resins can be a dangerous job, you have to be very careful and know exactly what your doing with these volitile chemicals.

 

[Gwalker]

Well, that link didn't work, this one should.....

http://www.channel10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=35802

 

[prugs]

All it said was that they were working with fiberglass earlier in the day.

 

[hllywd]

Resins give off some heat when mixed with the hardeners but to cause a fire??? What exactly is it they were supposed to have done?

 

[jjmg]

I've mixed some pretty hot batches of fiberglass, to hot to touch, but that was using way more hardener than recommended. Maybe the fumes from the chemicals could cause a fire, but I'm doubting the fiberglass lite off by itself. Anyone ever see this?

 

[Gwalker]

With enough hardner it will combust. There is no debating that. I've done it (on purpose and controlled). If you put too much hardner in the mix and apply it right away, when the chemicals come to there hottest point it can ignite anything in contact with it.

 

[prugs]

Perfect example of read the directions.
warning smoking while fueling a vehicle can cause an explosion.
I have not tried, I'll just take their word for it.

 

[boviac]

I too have worked with it when the hardner gets a little too strong. Very hot but never a fire but I could easily see if it was towards the end of the day... tired workers... job needs to be done.... Extra hardner, slap it on and go home. one + hour later and you've got FIRE? Don't know at all if that is what happened but could easily see it as a potential series of events. You don't have to be further than a few feed from the Resin/hardner containers to see there are huge warnings and second you don't have to work with it for very long to realize it gets hotter the more inexcess one adds hardner.

Maybe we shouldn't speculate about what actually cause the fire but it is good to promote the potential risks involved.

 

[BeanAnimal]

well....

To get spontaneous combustion, you would need to mix in a LARGE batch in a container. The combination of the container, over stirring and the excess hardner can cuase a LOT of heat to be trapped. You can get this effect with 2 component polyurethane or epoxy as well. (any polymerization or catalyized reaction with flamables).

Not something to worry about of your following the directions and are not mixing HUGE batches.

FWIW I saw a co-worker accidently pour half a 55g drum of A component ISP (highly expanding ether blown polyurethane) into a drum of B when combining partial drums returned from a jobsite. Scary to say the least... nobody got hurt, but the violent reaction could have been deadly and the cleanup of the warehouse took days.

I have had catalyist accidents and had entire drums go off in seconds... scary scary. I have also seen poly sponcom in confined spaces due to it not being able to give off heat. And a few dozen other near horror stories over the years.