The emergency pressure-relief theory is extended to the increasing-volatility, or "gassy" case. James E. Huff, Dow Chemical U.S.A., Midland, Mich. 48640 Runaway reactions of materials to yield more-volatile products are characterized by a rapid initial rise in pressure with a less pronounced temperature rise. If the products are very light ("gassy" reactions), the initial rate of pressure rise can be fast enough to give the appearance ofa triggered explosion. However, detailed calculation of the physical and thermochemical runaway process shows that the observed behavior will result from orderly equilibrium phenomena. These phenomena are the same regardless of the relationship between reactant and product volatilities. The distinction lies in the difference in physical-roperty parameters, and the resulting difference Another characteristic of the gassy case is the rapid composition change when the system starts to vent. This change results from preferential venting of light components with ve low heats of phase change. The net result [' such a A,,-, + B(n + C(n C(n + D(n + E,n -67000 kJ/kmol -62800 kJ/kmol The reactions are carried out in component F as a solvent. Component E is non-condensable at reaction tem-

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