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They say it will fail for sure, either leak or explode. I wonder why they can't drain the tank into another facility. Maybe they just lack an appropriate conta

by mmooss 5mo ago

They say it will fail for sure, either leak or explode. I wonder why they can't drain the tank into another facility. Maybe they just lack an appropriate container.

gazook89 5mo ago
I believe they are having issues with the valves, from what I’ve read. But I’m just some guy.
- btilly 5mo ago
  They are having valve problems. One of the possible reasons is that it may be turning into a solid plastic. If so, that could be one of the best outcomes. As long as it does not blow up before the process completes.
  - slicktux 5mo ago
    Yes, as of recent the third possibility mentioned by officials is that it will Turn into plastic and not explode.
  - crote 5mo ago
    Provided the plastic doesn't need significantly more space than the source material, of course. We all know what happens when you try freezing a sealed bottle filled with water.
    - btilly 5mo ago
      Solids generally take less volume than liquids. Water is very unusual in this regard
  - itishappy 5mo ago
    Turning into plastic is an exothermic reaction. That's what's heating the tank.
    - btilly 5mo ago
      It is also a slower exothermic reaction. Which makes it possibly manageable.
      - itishappy 5mo ago
        Than what? Genuinely curious. I thought that the main exothermic thing monomers did was polymerization or combustion, and we're really hoping to prevent the latter.
        btilly 5mo ago
        Polymerization is a slower exothermic action than combustion. So if we have to choose between them, that's the one.
        itishappy 5mo ago
        Ohh, then combustion itself. Right. Thanks, lol.
KZerda 5mo ago
The valve's jammed, so they can't really pump things in or out.
scruple 5mo ago
I live nearby, I'm hosting some family at my home who have been evacuated. A fireman friend who has been to the site said the same. That it'll either explode or spill and they're banking on it spilling.
thephyber 5mo ago
Many people have already mentioned that officials have stated the valve isn’t working. But also, the chemical is actively undergoing an exothermic reaction (which is why the tank is at risk for failure). How do you transport such a toxic fluid without putting much more of the public at risk?
- harshreality 5mo ago
  If you can get it out of the tank, you can prevent further runaway polymerization by adding an inhibitor like hydroquinone. I don't understand why a storage tank for this stuff doesn't have an injection port, independent from any other pipes or valves, that could be used to add an inhibitor. Maybe it does and it's broken (clogged with PMMA from the reaction) as well?
  - acomjean 5mo ago
    They tried to neutralize but couldn’t apparently. “But when members of GKN Aerospace’s response team arrived to inject a neutralizing agent into the tank to reduce the liquid’s volatility, they learned that the tank’s valves were gummed up, making the interior inaccessible, said Mr. Covey.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/us/garden-grove-chemical-plant-leak-evacuations.html?unlocked_article_code=1.k1A.ZRHR.p0cAqNa_O8PQ&smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/us/garden-grove-chemical-...
SadErn 5mo ago
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by mmooss 5mo ago

They say it will fail for sure, either leak or explode. I wonder why they can't drain the tank into another facility. Maybe they just lack an appropriate container.

gazook89 5mo ago

I believe they are having issues with the valves, from what I’ve read. But I’m just some guy.

btilly 5mo ago
They are having valve problems. One of the possible reasons is that it may be turning into a solid plastic. If so, that could be one of the best outcomes. As long as it does not blow up before the process completes.
- slicktux 5mo ago
  Yes, as of recent the third possibility mentioned by officials is that it will Turn into plastic and not explode.
- crote 5mo ago
  Provided the plastic doesn't need significantly more space than the source material, of course. We all know what happens when you try freezing a sealed bottle filled with water.
  - btilly 5mo ago
    Solids generally take less volume than liquids. Water is very unusual in this regard
- itishappy 5mo ago
  Turning into plastic is an exothermic reaction. That's what's heating the tank.
  - btilly 5mo ago
    It is also a slower exothermic reaction. Which makes it possibly manageable.
    - itishappy 5mo ago
      Than what? Genuinely curious. I thought that the main exothermic thing monomers did was polymerization or combustion, and we're really hoping to prevent the latter.
      - btilly 5mo ago
        Polymerization is a slower exothermic action than combustion. So if we have to choose between them, that's the one.
        itishappy 5mo ago
        Ohh, then combustion itself. Right. Thanks, lol.

KZerda 5mo ago

The valve's jammed, so they can't really pump things in or out.

scruple 5mo ago

I live nearby, I'm hosting some family at my home who have been evacuated. A fireman friend who has been to the site said the same. That it'll either explode or spill and they're banking on it spilling.

thephyber 5mo ago

Many people have already mentioned that officials have stated the valve isn’t working. But also, the chemical is actively undergoing an exothermic reaction (which is why the tank is at risk for failure). How do you transport such a toxic fluid without putting much more of the public at risk?

harshreality 5mo ago
If you can get it out of the tank, you can prevent further runaway polymerization by adding an inhibitor like hydroquinone. I don't understand why a storage tank for this stuff doesn't have an injection port, independent from any other pipes or valves, that could be used to add an inhibitor. Maybe it does and it's broken (clogged with PMMA from the reaction) as well?
- acomjean 5mo ago
  They tried to neutralize but couldn’t apparently. “But when members of GKN Aerospace’s response team arrived to inject a neutralizing agent into the tank to reduce the liquid’s volatility, they learned that the tank’s valves were gummed up, making the interior inaccessible, said Mr. Covey.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/us/garden-grove-chemical-plant-leak-evacuations.html?unlocked_article_code=1.k1A.ZRHR.p0cAqNa_O8PQ&smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/us/garden-grove-chemical-...

SadErn 5mo ago

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