Aerosol cans have played an important role in industries and economies throughout the world since the 1920s. They were originally invented as a means of spreading insecticides for the United States military. Still, they have since been utilized to provide an effective means of dispersing countless different products, including cleaners, lubricants, shaving cream, and paints. While many people are familiar with the wide variety of applications for aerosol cans, relatively few are familiar with how they function or the propellants they use to make it all possible.

How Do Aerosol Cans Work?

Understanding how an aerosol can works is important in understanding aerosol can propellants and their purpose. Aerosol cans are a dispersal system that relies on internal pressure to propel the product out of the can in the form of an aerosol.The container is pressurized so that when the trigger is pressed, the product within the can is pushed through the straw and outward from the nozzle in the form of a fine mist or aerosol.

What Is the Purpose of Aerosol Can Propellants?

The aerosol can propellant is added to create the internal pressure within the can that drives the product or active ingredients from within the can. If a propellant were not used, as the can was used up and the pressure of the can decreased, the spray would weaken and eventually stop entirely once the can’s internal pressure was equal to the external environment. This would create an uneven spray as the pressure changed and would leave unused product within the container at the end of its life. The propellant helps to maintain constant or near-constant pressure and creates a consistent spray of the product in the form of an aerosol. It also allows the user to get more of the product out of the can before running out of pressure.

What Are the Dangers Associated with Aerosol Cans? 

There are three potential dangers associated with aerosol cans, stemming from their internal pressure, their propellant, and the product or active ingredients.

Because aerosol cans are pressurized, they have the potential to explode when exposed to heat or if the container is compromised. Aerosol can explosions may result in injury, damage to property, and death.

Many aerosol cans use propellants that are some combination of butane, isobutane, and propane. These are flammable and require special care when storing and in use.

The third potential danger associated with aerosol cans comes in the form of the cans’ active ingredients. Aerosol cans are used to disperse countless hazardous and flammable liquids, including insecticides, pesticides, cleaners, and paints. The dangers of each product will vary based on its active ingredients, and proper care should be taken to meet safety requirements and recommendations based on the aerosol cans’ active ingredients.