Safe Replacement Materials for DOP in 'Hot Smoke' Aerosol Penetrometer Machines

Abstract

For many decades dioctyl phthalate (DOP), a common industrial material, has been used by the U.S. Army and other agencies to simulate aerosol behavior in non-destructive gas mask and filter serviceability testing, and for related test purposes. Techniques are completely standardized. But DOP has been labeled a hazardous material. The research reported here, which was performed using ATI Q-127 and TDA-100 'hot smoke' aerosol penetrometer test machines, identified relatively innocuous, inexpensive replacement materials for DOP. One of these, a synthetic hydrocarbon (poly alpha olefin (PAO)), can be used to replace DOP directly with minimum impact upon existing hardware and procedures. Of more than two dozen candidate replacement materials that were tested, isostearic acid and oleic acid also performed well as DOP replacements. All three materials also show promise for cold smoke testing applications. DOP, Hot smokes, Isostearic acid, PAD, DOP replacement, TDA-100 Machines, Replacement materials, Serviceability testing, Gas masks, Q-127 Machines, Oleic acid, Respirators, Penetrometers, Filters(particulate), Materials selection.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA249980

Entities

People

  • Hugh R. Carlon
  • Mark A. Guelta

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Compounds
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Fatty Acids
  • Flash Point
  • Gas Masks
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Measurement
  • Oleic Acid
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Physical Properties
  • Protective Equipment
  • Standards
  • Stearic Acid

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Fire Suppression Systems Design.
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.