Visualization and analysis of mapping knowledge domain in metal dust explosion research

Metal dust explosions represent critical issues in industrial safety, necessitating comprehensive research to mitigate risks and enhance prevention strategies. To address this, a bibliometric analysis of 1132 publications (2008–2024) from the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted, mapping the temporal and spatial distribution of publications, country/region contributions, subject categories, institutional collaborations, major source journals, highly cited papers, co-authorship networks, research knowledge domains, and emerging research frontiers. Key findings reveal that China leads in publication volume (50.05 %), while the United States exhibits the highest academic influence. The primary research fields include engineering chemical (47.20 %), materials science multidisciplinary (29.44 %), and energy fuels (22.78 %). The research knowledge domain is centered on the properties of metal dust, explosion mechanisms, and suppression techniques, with a particular focus on aluminum dust and nanomaterials. Current research hotspots include combustion behavior, ignition mechanisms, and the effects of microstructure. Emerging frontiers are dominated by "severity" and "inhibition", reflecting a growing emphasis on quantifying explosion intensity and developing effective suppression strategies. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for industrial dust explosion prevention and underscore promising directions in nano-materials, alloy optimization, and interdisciplinary approaches for enhancing safety engineering.