Review of Aging Data on EPDM O-Rings in the H1616 Shipping Package

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1037327· OSTI ID:1037327

Skidmore, T. E. ^[1]

---

1. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Currently, all H1616 shipping package containers undergo annual re-verification testing, including containment vessel leak testing to verify leak-tightness (<1 x 10^-7 ref cc/sec air) as per ANSI N14.5. The purpose of this literature review is to supplement aging studies currently being performed by SRNL on the EPDM O-rings to provide the technical basis for extending annual re-verification testing for the H1616 shipping package and to predict the life of the seals at bounding service conditions. The available data suggest that the EPDM O-rings can retain significant mechanical properties and sealing force at or below bounding service temperatures (169 °F or 76 °C) beyond the 1 year maintenance period. Interpretation of available data suggests that a service life of at least 2 years and potentially 4-6 years may be possible at bounding temperatures. Seal lifetimes at lower, more realistic temperatures will likely be longer. Being a hydrocarbon elastomer, EPDM O-rings may exhibit an inhibition period due to the presence of antioxidants. Once antioxidants are consumed, mechanical properties and seal performance could decline at a faster rate. Testing is being performed to validate the assumptions outlined in this report and to assess the long-term performance of O-ring seals under actual service conditions.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1037327
• Report Number(s): SRNL--STI-2012-00149
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
AGING
AIR
ANTIOXIDANTS
CONTAINERS
CONTAINMENT
GASKETS
HYDROCARBONS
LEAK TESTING
MAINTENANCE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE
SERVICE LIFE
TESTING