A Portable Sorption Tester for Nondestructive Testing of Chemical Protective Garments
Abstract
A prototype portable instrument was developed to measure, nondestructively, sorptive capacity of chemical protective garments in the field. The instrument contains four major subsystems: flow control, detection, microprocessor controller, and sample cell. A low-boiling halocarbon mimics carbon tetrachloride, the standard test vapor. A very low flow mass flow controller mixes challenge from a pressurized cylinder with a controlled flow of air from a diaphragm pump. A double sample cell is used in order to make detection by thermal conductivity specific for the challenge gas. Measurement, control, and operator interface are under the control of a microprocessor. A keypad is used for operator input. A thermal printer-plotter prints default and operator input conditions and plots the breakthrough curve. Total challenge at break time is printed. Leak-tight seal of intact, double-layer Battledress Cvergarment material in the cell was achieved using tapered stainless steel cups with inset gaskets. Natick found the portable tester to display excellent repeatability. Correlation with carbon tetrachloride acceptance tests was carried out on stockpiled overgarments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA400228
Entities
People
- Elizabeth Klemperer
- Stephen Kerrin