Volatile matter is a substance that vaporizes easily, measured by its vapor pressure. It determines flammability and is used to test coal properties for industrial use. VOCs are organic compounds with high volatility, causing respiratory health risks.
Volatile matter is any substance that has a tendency to vaporize under the right conditions. The volatility of a substance is measured by its vapor pressure, the point at which a substance changes from a solid to a gas, or vice versa. Unlike temperature-based measurements, such as boiling point, vapor pressure is not directly related to heat or cold and is instead based on the pressure exerted on a substance. While both vapor pressure and volatile matter are common in many physical and chemical forms, one of its major industrial uses is determining the properties of coal.
Vapor pressure is the primary determination of the volatility of matter. A substance with a high vapor pressure will vaporize easily while one with a low one requires much more energy. In this case, the high or low designation refers to how easily the substance vaporizes.
When applied to a material, vapor pressure determines its volatility. This often comes up when discussing flammability, as a volatile substance has a tendency to be more flammable than a non-volatile one. For this reason it is important to study the volatility in a fuel source to determine its overall utility.
Volatile matter testing for coal is generally a very rigorous operation. Different regions have their own methods, but they all involve heating a specific amount of coal to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time. This test is typically performed in a vacuum and studies the amount and type of gas emitted by the piece of coal.
Analyzing these gases is one of the main ways people determine the best uses for coal from different areas. Some types have higher concentrations of certain materials, and this allows that particular coal to perform better in certain ways. For example, lignite has a very high volatile matter content along with high humidity. Moisture and volatility analysis show that it burns for a long time with a low flame and lots of smoke.
A volatile organic compound (VOC) is a specific type of matter that originates from the life cycle or processing of organic materials. These compounds are literally everywhere, as materials are as diverse as propane fumes and flower smells fall into this category. This category of substances often have a very high volatility, resulting in the ability to smell them when they are nearby. VOCs are a major source of allergens and respiratory health risks.
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