Can dropping an aerosol can make it explode?

[hammertime]

As I was going through my closet, a can of silly string dropped from one of the highest shelves. It hit the ledge of one of the other shelves quite hard before landing on the carpet.

This can has standard warnings for aerosol cans written on it: "Don't store at 120 degrees plus", etc. My dad tested it out and it worked fine even after the drop.

Is there any risk of this can exploding if it's used? If I put it back and don't touch it again for another few weeks, will there still be any risk?

 

[DaveC426913]

Yes. It might have a dent, it might be weakened at a seal.

However, I'm not sure how much pressure there is in a can of silly string. I suspect not a lot.

 

[Dale]

Dropping an aerosol can can indeed make it explode provided you have dropped it into a campfire or something similar.

 

[russ_watters]

If it didn't explode when dropped, using it later won't make it explode, it'll relieve the pressure inside it and move it away from any possible danger.

 

[cragar]

When i was a kid i hit a spray paint can with an axe in the garage, and it violently shot paint all over including the ceiling, All tho it didn't really peel the metal back from where i made the incision it just shot it from the cut i made. It would take a decent force to rupture the metal can.

 

[DaveC426913]

If it didn't explode when dropped, using it later won't make it explode,

Uh, presuming one handles it with kid gloves...

A jostle could be enough to do it. I've seen pop cans get dented at the store, then spontaneously fail an hour later once they got home.

Sure, it's unlikely, but the OP is obviously worried about it, and I presume he'll want to err on the side of caution.