Page "Liquid oxygen" Paragraph 3

Because of its cryogenic nature, liquid oxygen can cause the materials it touches to become extremely brittle.

Liquid oxygen is also a very powerful oxidizing agent: organic materials will burn rapidly and energetically in liquid oxygen.

Further, if soaked in liquid oxygen, some materials such as coal briquettes, carbon black, etc., can detonate unpredictably from sources of ignition such as flames, sparks or impact from light blows.

Petrochemicals often exhibit this behavior, including asphalt.