Flash Point and Fire Point of Oil

Flash point and fire point: The flash point is the lowest temperature to which a lubricant must be heated before its vapor, when mixed with air, will ignite but not continue to burn. The fire point is the temperature at which lubricant combustion will be sustained. The flash and fire points are useful in determining a lubricants volatility and fire resistance. The flash point can be used to determine the transportation and storage temperature requirements for lubricants. Lubricant producers can also use the flash point to detect potential product contamination. A lubricant exhibiting a flash point significantly lower than normal will be suspected of contamination with a volatile product. Products with a flash point less than 38 C (100F) will usually require special precautions for safe handling. The fire point for a lubricant is usually 8 to 10 percent above the flash point. The flash point and fire point should not be confused with the auto-ignition temperature of a lubricant, which is the temperature at which a lubricant will ignite spontaneously without an external ignition source.

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