Mechanical sensitivity (impact) EC A.14.; UN Series 3, Test 3 (a) (ii): BAM Fallhammer (drop hammer)

The test consists of subjecting the test substance to the impact of a specified drop-weight from a specified height.

The essential parts of the fallhammer are the cast steel block with base, the anvil, the column, the guides, the drop weights with release device and the impact device. The steel anvil (100 mm diameter × 70 mm height) is screwed onto the top of a steel block (230 mm length × 250 mm width × 200 mm height) with a base (450 mm length × 450 mm width × 60 mm height). A column of seamless drawn steel tubing is fixed in a bracket that is bolted to the back of the steel block. The fallhammer is fixed with 4 anchoring screws on a solid concrete block (60 cm × 60 cm) in such a way that the guides are exactly vertical and the drop weight is easily guided. Drop weights are made of solid steel and are available, for example, in 5 kg and 10 kg weights. The striking head of each weight is made of hardened steel, HRC 60 to 63, and has a minimum diameter of 25 mm.

The test result is assessed as positive if an explosion (a bang and/or ignition is equivalent to an explosion) occurs with the apparatus described in at least one test.

Mechanical sensitivity (friction) EC A.14.; UN Series 3, Test 3 (b) (i): BAM friction apparatus

In this test, solid or paste-like substances are subjected to friction between standardized surfaces under specified conditions of load and relative movement.

The friction apparatus consists of a base plate (cast steel) on which the roller assembly, consisting of a fixed porcelain peg and a moving porcelain plate, is mounted. The porcelain plate is fixed in a carriage which runs in two guides. The carriage is connected to an electric motor via a connecting rod, an eccentric cam and suitable gearing such that the porcelain plate is moved, once only, backwards and forwards beneath the porcelain peg a distance of 10 mm. The porcelain peg can be loaded with 120 or 360 N, for example.

The flat porcelain plates are made of pure technical white porcelain (roughness 9 μm to 32 μm) and have the dimensions 25 mm (length) × 25 mm (width) × 5 mm (height). The cylindrical porcelain peg is also made of pure technical white porcelain. It is 15 mm long, has a diameter of 10 mm and a rough spherical end face with a radius of curvature of 10 mm.

The test result is considered positive if an explosion occurs at least once in any of the tests with the specified friction apparatus. Crackling and/or a bang, sparking or flame is equivalent to an explosion. Decomposition (change of color or odor) is not considered an explosion.