ABSTRACT

A sample of Militec #1 Metal Conditioner manufactured and supplied by Militec, Inc. was analyzed to determine its off-gassed components.

One gram of the material, as received, was heated at 65 degrees C (150 degrees F) for twenty-four hours in a sealed stainless steel cylinder and the resulting atmosphere analyzed as requested. Another one-gram sample was heated at 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) for twenty-four hours in a sealed stainless steel cylinder and the resulting atmosphere analyzed as requested.

Under these conditions, no major components were off-gassed from the sample. No aromatic or halogenated hydrocarbons were detected in the out-gassed sample.

We recommend that the Navy Environmental Health Center review this data and recommend a submarine usage category for this material.

INTRODUCTION

The Gas Analysis Laboratory is part of the Ocean Engineering Department. Diving and Salvage Division. Underwater and Advanced Concepts Branch located at the Naval Coastal Systems Center, Panama City, Florida. The Gas Analysis Laboratory supports the Ocean Simulation Facility (OSF). Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) hyperbaric chambers, and is the lead laboratory for the Navy-wide Gas Analysis Program for Scuba Air Analysis. This laboratory is responsible for off-gassing analyses at the OSF, EDF, NDSTC, SDV Programs, and MK 12, and EX 14 diving systems. This work at the Gas Analysis Laboratory has been an on going project for over fifteen years.

Potential chemical hazards to personnel may arise from personal contact with the material of from substance off-gassed or possible volatilized into the submarine’s atmosphere.

The Gas Analysis Laboratory determined the off-gassed characteristics of samples of Militec #1 Metal Conditioner when heated at 65 degrees C (150 degrees F) and 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) for twenty-four hours in a sealed stainless steel container. The 65 degrees C temperature was chosen because: (1) it is considered to be the maximum temperature to which the material would be exposed during normal usage, excluding catastrophic circumstances such as would arise during a fire, and (2) the elevated temperature provides a means of accelerating the off-gassing of volatile components. The chosen off-gassing conditions usually are more severe than those to which the material would normally be exposed aboard submarines. Since these off-gassing studies were done under static conditions (i.e., no atmospheric renewal), they represent worst-case conditions. Air circulation and purification systems are standard equipment of submarines; therefore, off-gassed products would not be expected to build up as they would under the conditions used during this study.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

MANUFACTURER’S DATA