Introduction

Powdery substances like Saw dust, flour, or Benzoic Acid powder will burn violently and ‘scatter’ part of the sample material to the vessel wall without igniting it. Evidence of scattering is when sample material is found on the bomb vessel wall. Obviously, the result is lower than expected.

However, when the scattered sample material settles on the large vessel O-ring then it may burn the O-ring and cause damage to the bomb vessel. This must be prevented at all costs. If a sample was scattered, the large vessel O-ring must be examined and replaced. This is particularly prevalent with saw dust.

Summary

If you have a pellet press, we encourage you to use it. Otherwise, use a gelatin capsule and the spiking procedure. The EASY spiking works very well.