Water permeation through organic materials
Atmospheric moisture is routinely excluded from weapon systems by the use of elastomer seals at assembly joints and electrical feedthroughs while internal moisture is minimized by relying on desiccants and on pre-dried components assembled in special low humidity assembly rooms. Published values of the water permeation coefficient for ethylene-propylene rubber and other o-ring materials are subject to some variability and the effects of aging on water permability are unknown. We have thus devised a new and extremely sensitive method for measuring moisture permeation coefficients in organic materials. This method uses dilute tritiated water as a tracer and it is approximately two orders of magnitude more sensitive than other methods. We are therefore able to make measurements on materials under STS temperature and humidity conditions. Rate data showing the approach to equilibrium and water permeability values for a variety of elastomers are presented. The test apparatus is also described.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5972810
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-81-8250; ON: DE82003896
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360404* -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Physical Properties-- (-1987)
DIFFUSION
ELASTOMERS
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEASURING METHODS
MOISTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
POLYMERS
SEALS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VAPORS
WATER
WATER VAPOR
WEAPONS