sora Posted March 15, 2014 Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) I was going through some aircraft crash case studies in context of the missing Malaysian MH370 and came across Chemical Oxygen Generators in airplanes. From wiki:A chemical oxygen generator is a device that releases oxygen via a chemical reaction. The oxygen source is usually an inorganic superoxide, chlorate, or perchlorate; ozonides are a promising group of oxygen sources. The generators are usually ignited by a firing pin, and the chemical reaction is usually exothermic, making the generator a potential fire hazard. Potassium superoxide was used as an oxygen source on early manned missions of the Soviet space program, for firefighters, and for mine rescue. The oxidizer core is sodium chlorate (NaClO3), which is mixed with less than 5 percent barium peroxide (BaO2) and less than 1 percent potassium perchlorate (KClO4). The explosives in the percussion cap are a lead styphnate and tetrazene mixture. The chemical reaction is exothermic and the exterior temperature of the canister will reach 260 °C (500 °F). It will produce oxygen for 12 to 22 minutes.[1][2] The two-mask generator is approximately 63 mm (2.5 in) in diameter and 223 mm (8.8 in) long. The three-mask generator is approximately 70 mm (2.8 in) in diameter and 250 mm (9.8 in) long. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_generator Accidental activation of some of them in the cargo hold of the ill fated ValuJet Flight 592 set it on fire and brought it down in Florida, 1996 Edited March 15, 2014 by sora
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