Illinois HazMat Ops Practice Exam

Which type of breach occurs when containers made of brittle material fail?

1. Breach disintegration

2. Breach attachment

3. Breach puncture

4. Breach split or tear

The correct answer is: Breach disintegration

Breach disintegration refers to the failure of containers made from brittle materials, which can occur during a pressure change or due to environmental stress factors. When these materials become too brittle, they may break apart or shatter instead of bending or deforming. This type of failure results in the material breaking into smaller pieces, which can cause the hazardous materials contained within to leak out. The other types of breaches do not specifically address the context of brittle materials. A breach attachment typically describes a failure in a connected component or fitting rather than the main container itself. A breach puncture involves a sharp object creating a hole, which doesn't relate to the brittleness of the material. Finally, a breach split or tear generally pertains to flexible materials that can rip or tear under stress, which is fundamentally different from the fracture patterns observed in brittle materials. Thus, breach disintegration is the most relevant and accurate term to describe the failure of brittle containers.