Chemical Agent Simulants for Testing Transparent Materials
Abstract
Transparent polymeric materials undergo physical changes when exposed to chemical warfare agents. The object of this task was to: 1) select candidate liquids to simulate GB, VX and HD effects (three each) and 2) perform three point bend tests to determine critical strain values for cracking/crazing for simulant/transparent polymer materials combinations. The critical strain tests were accomplished using ASTM method D790-80 for stress crazing. The method was modified and enhanced to detect stress crazing via changes in reflection/ diffraction patterns produced with a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser. Four transparent polymer materials were tested; namely, as cast polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), biaxially stretched PMMA, polycarbonate and polyurethane GAC-590. The critical strain values obtained for the simulant/polymer combinations are presented as a four by nine map that allows easy comparisons as a function of material or simulant. Comparison with actual agent data is possible using this four by nine map. (aw)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA197138
Entities
People
- Emory W. Sarver
- Louis Isaacson
- Paul S. Grasso
- Randall E. Lewis
- Shirley A. Liebman