Originally Posted by
Burton
Since an explosion describes a kind of uncontrolled combustion and CO2 isn`t combustable - it can`t explode.
So lets assume you mean burst due to temperature or pressure extremes. Due to its design (the end you pierce is the weakest part of the cylinder) the worst that could possibly happen is the cylinder could vent through that end. But I`ve never had or heard of that happening myself.
In the chemical industry such an incident is called a BLEVE - Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. Get that cartridge hot enough and you are going to have a problem, whatever you want to call it.
The cartidge is labelled to keep it less than 120°F. It probably won't vent to around 140° at least.
They probably make the sealed end the weakest point on purpose to avoid having the shell burst with flying shrapnel.