-----Original Message-----
From: Smith Allen [mailto:asmith@mail.barry.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 12:33 PM
To: JHoffpa464@aol.com
Cc: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: RE: Is isopentane safe and could it be used in -70C firdge?

The flash point is the temperature above which a flammable mixture of vapor and air forms above a flammable liquid.

I cannot find a reference for the flash point of isopentane.  The MERCK INDEX gives the flash point of n-pentane as  <-40 C.  Thus the flash point of isopentane should be below -50 C.  (I would guess -60 C.)  That suggests that leaving an open container of isopentane in a -70 C freezer would be very risky.  A 10 degree margin of safety based on GUESSWORK is not the sort of risk I would wish to run.

Allen A. Smith, Ph.D.
Barry University
School of Graduate Medical Sciences
    Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
Miami Shores, Florida  33161-6695

-----Original Message-----
From: JHoffpa464@aol.com [mailto:JHoffpa464@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 11:23 AM
To: RFail@Charleston.net; yichaowu@hotmail.com; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Is isopentane safe and could it be used in -70C firdge?

does anyone know the flash point of isopentane at -70C?

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential, and/or privileged material. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any errant transmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system and notify the sender. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses.
Barry University - Miami Shores, FL (http://www.barry.edu)