NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Exploding trousers

In New Zealand in the 1930s, farmers had trouble with exploding trousers as a result of attempts to wipe out the weed ragwort. Farmers had been spraying sodium chlorate, a government recommended weedkiller, onto the ragwort, and some of the spray had ended up on their clothes. Sodium chlorate is a strong oxidizing agent, and reacted with the organic fibres (i.e. the wool and the cotton) of the clothes. Reports had farmers' trousers variously smouldering and bursting into flame, particularly when exposed to heat or naked flames. One report had trousers that were hanging on a washing line starting to smoke.^[1]^[2] Binomial name Senecio jacobaea L. Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is found throughout Europe, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere. ... R-phrases R9, R22, R51/53 S-phrases S2, S13, S17, S46, S61 Flash point none Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, Îµr, etc. ...

On television

The idea that trousers could explode like this was investigated by the U.S. television show MythBusters. Experimenters tested four substances on 100% cotton overalls: MythBusters is an American science television program on Discovery Channel starring special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, who set out to test the validity of myths and urban legends of popular culture. ...

A paste comprising a mixture of gunpowder and water
A herbicide from the 1930s
A fertilizer from the 1930s
An acid (nitrocellulose/guncotton)

along with four different ignition methods: flame, radiant heat, friction and impact. Smokeless powder Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases that act as a propellant in firearms. ... Nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose (also: cellulose nitrate, flash paper) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through, for example, exposure to nitric acid or another powerful nitrating agent. ... Nitrocellulose (Cellulose nitrate, guncotton) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose (e. ...

Using the show's "Buster test", they confirmed that trousers would indeed explode with sufficient herbicide and a suitable detonator present.^[3]

ABC's The Science Show described exploding trousers as "the scenario for a Goon Show"^[2], and, in an example of art imitating life, it actually was. The Goons wrote a script about a chemical which "when applied to the tail of a miltary soldier shirt, is tasteless, colourless, and odourless" but that "The moment the wearer sits down, the heat from his body causes the chemical to explode.".^[4] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [1] is Australias national non-commercial public broadcaster. ... DVD of The Last Goon Show of All, aired by the BBC in 1972. ...

References

^ "Dr Watson and the exploding trousers", Massey University, 2005-10-10.
^ ^a ^b "Exploding Trousers", The Science Show, ABC, 2004-12-18.
^ Episode 53: Exploding Trousers, Great Gas Conspiracy. Unofficial MythBusters: Episode guides (2006-05-28).
^ Tales of Men's shirts. The Goon Show.

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [1] is Australias national non-commercial public broadcaster. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... DVD of The Last Goon Show of All, aired by the BBC in 1972. ...

References

Further reading