Flash point test and flammability of mixtures
X2.1 While the flash point can be used to indicate the flammability of liquid materials for certain end uses, flash point does not represent the minimum temperature at which a material can evolve flammable vapors.
X2.2 There are instances with pure materials where the absence of a flash point does not ensure freedom from flammability. Included in this category are materials that require large diameters for flash propagation, such as trichloroethylene. This material will not propagate a flame in apparatus the size of a flash point tester, however, its vapors are flammable and will burn when ignited in apparatus of adequate size.
X2.3 When a liquid contains flammable and nonflammable components, there are cases where this liquid can evolve flammable vapors under certain conditions and yet will not exhibit a close-cup flash point. This phenomenon is noted when a nonflammable component is sufficiently volatile and present in sufficient quantity to inert the vapor space of the closed cup, thus preventing a flash. In addition, there are certain instances where an appreciable quantity of the nonflammable component will be present in the vapor, and the material will exhibit no flash point.
X2.4 Liquids containing a highly volatile nonflammable component or impurity, which exhibit no flash point because of the influence of the nonflammable material, may form flammable mixtures if totally flash vaporized in air in the proper proportions.
