Trilithium nitride

Flammability

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

flammable solids

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

2003-10-01

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: VDI 2263-1

Version / remarks:

Determination of the combustibility index (Brennzahl: BZ)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

not specified

Key result

Test procedure:

other: combustibility index

Remarks on result:

ambiguous

Lithium nitride burned after external ignition with a small flame. The combustibility index (BZ) has been determined as 5.

Interpretation of results:

study cannot be used for classification

Conclusions:

A combustibility index of 5 has been determined for the test substance.

Executive summary:

The combustibility index was determined according to the national standard method VDI 2263-1. This test checks whether and to what extent a fire (started by external ignition) can spread in deposited dust of the test substance. An attempt was made to ignite the dust sample heaped to form a strip of product about 2 cm wide and 4 cm long at one end with a glowing platinum wire with a temperature of about 1000 °C.Lithium nitride burned after external ignition with a small flame (equivalent to combustibility index 5).

Reference 2

Endpoint:

flammable solids

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

2003-10-01

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study without detailed documentation

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

UN Manual of Tests and Criteria: Test N.1 (Test method for readily combustible solids)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

not specified

Key result

Test procedure:

burning rate test over 100 mm length

Burning time:

56 s

A burning time of 56 s and a burning rate of 1.8 mm/s has been determined.

Interpretation of results:

not classified based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

According to the test criteria the test substance is not regarded as flammable solid.

Executive summary:

The flammability of the test substance has been conducted in accordance with UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, chapter 33.2.1.4, test method N.1. A burning time of 56 s and a burning rate of 1.8 mm/s has been determined. Thus the test substance is not regarded as flammable.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

substances / mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Only handbook or published data available. No guideline indicated.

Key result

Remarks on result:

reaction with water (not further specified)

Interpretation of results:

Category 1 (substances or mixtures which in contact with water release flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously) based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

Based on the handbook data the test substance is regarded as flammable in contact with water.

Executive summary:

Lithium nitride is described as vigorously reacting with water in the Hommel Handbook of Dangerous Goods (2009).

Reference 4

Endpoint:

pyrophoric solids

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

secondary literature

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Only handbook or published data available. No guideline indicated.

Key result

Test procedure:

ignition time on contact with air

Remarks on result:

ignition on contact with air (not further specified)

Interpretation of results:

Category 1 (pyrophoric solids) based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

Based on the publication the test substance is regarded as pyrophoric.

Executive summary:

According to Lundberg et al. (1993) lithium nitride can spontaneously combust in damp air.

Reference 5

Endpoint:

pyrophoric solids

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Only handbook or published data available. No guideline indicated.

Key result

Test procedure:

ignition time on contact with air

Remarks on result:

ignition on contact with air (not further specified)

Interpretation of results:

Category 1 (pyrophoric solids) based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

Based on the publication the test substance is regarded as pyrophoric.

Executive summary:

Lithium nitride is described as igniting in contact with air in the Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals (2002).

Reference 6

Endpoint:

self-heating substances / mixtures

Data waiving:

study technically not feasible

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because the substance is pyrophoric

Justification for type of information:

In accordance with column 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006Annex VII and section R.7.1.10.7 of ECHA guidance IR/CSA, the UN Test method N.4 for self-heating substances and mixtures does not need to be conducted as the substance ignites spontaneously with air at room temperature.

Description of key information

The test substance is not flammable upon ignition or does have self heating properties. The substance shows pyrophoric properties and liberates flammable gases upon contact with water.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Flammability:

pyrophoric

Additional information

Two studies were conducted to assess flammability of the test substance in a tiered approach. In the first test the combustibility index was determined according to the national standard method VDI 2263-1. This test checks whether and to what extent a fire (started by external ignition) can spread in deposited dust of the test substance. An attempt is made to ignite the dust sample heaped to form a strip of product about 2 cm wide and 4 cm long at one end with a glowing platinum wire with a temperature of about 1000 °C. Lithium nitride burned with a small flame after external ignition (equivalent to combustibility index 5).

Further testing was performed according to UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, chapter 33.2.1.4, test method N.1, because the combustibility index was ≥ 4 in the above screening study. The substance was loosely filled into a standardized mould and ignited at one end. When the pile has burned a distance of 80 mm, the rate of burning was measured over the next 100 mm.

The test substance is classified as flammable when the time of burning of one or more of the test runs is less than 45 s or the rate of burning is more than 2.2 mm/s.

A burning time of 56 s and a burning rate of 1.8 mm/s have been determined. Thus, the substance should not be classified as flammable solid and no further testing is required.

Lundberg et al. (1993) and the Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals (Pradyot, Patnaik et al., 2002) report the substance as pyrophoric solid. Thus, the substance was classified as pyrophoric cat. 1, H250.

The Hommel Handbook of Dangerous Goods (2009) describes the test substance as vigorously reacting with water emitting flammable gases. Thus, the test substance was classified as water reacting cat. 1, H260.

Justification for classification or non-classification

In accordance with Annex I, Section 2.1, Section 2.2, Section 2.3, Section 2.7, Section 2.9, Section 2.10 Section 2.11, Section 2.12 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and UN GHS Rev 6 (2015) the substance has not to be classified as readily combustible solid in class 4 Division 4.1 or self-heating substance in Class 4 Division 4.2, pyrophoric liquid in class 4 Division 4.2, flammable gases in class 2 or as aerosol in class 2.

The substance is classified as pyrophoric solid (cat. 1) and as water reactive substance (cat. 1) according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.