EFFECTIVENESS OF M6A1 DETECTOR PAPER FOR SMALL AIRBORNE DROPS OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS,
Abstract
M6A1 detector paper is a standard military item which undergoes a rapid and permanent color change from olive-green to red on contact with droplets of liquid chemical warfare agents. The paper has been studied to determine the smallest size and number of spots which can be detected visually at several intensities of illumination. At 11 foot-candles or more (about equal to daylight at 5 to 10 minutes after sunset on a clear day), nine out of eleven laboratory personnel were able to detect a single 290-micron spot per square inch of paper. This is equivalent to a spherical droplet of 65 microns diameter, weighing about 0.14 microgram. Extrapolated to the projected area of a man, even unprotected, this quantity is negligible toxicitywise. Thus, M6A1 paper is a satisfactory detection of minimal CW attacks. Furthermore, at least at the higher illininations used in this study, there is no need for miprovement in the speed r certainty of attack detection. However, the margin of sagety provided by an M6A1 paper response decreases rapidly as the intensity of CW attack increases, since even instantaneous detection is too late in a heavy attack unless prior protective action has been taken. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0420928
Entities
People
- G. H. Fielding
- Kay O. Watkins
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory