Rubber contamination test

A second test which is even more discriminating is the so-called "contamination test, in which the rubber is soaked in the fluid for several hours at room temperature and is then subjected to hot air ageing at high temperature. This test simulates the environment of many engine components (e.g. seals, gaskets, hoses, etc.). The main rubbers commonly used in such applications are nitrile rubbers which are not appreciably swelled by hydrocarbon oils and ethylene-propylene (EP) and their ter-polymers (EPDM) which are resistant to the phosphate ester fluids (e.g. Skydrol) used in aircraft hydraulic systems. The following discussion is concerned with the performance of antioxidants under these veiry aggressive conditions. 

A quantity sufficient to carry out the required tests, generally in duplicate, are filled into the containers. Most substances for which there are no concerns for either toxicity or stability are filled by weighing the appropriate quantity into antibiotic vials in a horizontal laminar flow work station. These operations are carried out in a self-contained cubicle to avoid cross-contamination. The vials are then closed with butyl rubber stoppers and sealed with an aluminium crimp seal using an automatic crimping and labelling machine. 

The tests on DPE suit material and wood addressed size-reduction and material-transport problems identified during the Demo I testing (NRC, 2000a). DPE suit and butyl rubber simulant materials were shredded in a dedicated granulator, cryogenically cooled in a cryo-cooler with an internal screw conveyor, and reduced in a cryocooled hammer mill. No materials contaminated with agent were tested. 

It is self evident that tack is very much influenced by the surface condition of the rubber as well as dwell time and pressure this includes contamination and the surface roughness of the test piece. Measurements should be distributed over a fairly large area of the rubber sheet in question to obtain representative results. 

The same method is given in BS 903 Part A3782 which also contains a national annex giving a second method for assessing the degree of corrosion when the rubber is not in contact with the metal. Zinc is used as the standard metal as this is fairly readily corroded. A strip of zinc and the rubber test piece are both suspended over distilled water in a stoppered container maintained at 50°C. After a period of three weeks, the corrosion products are removed from the zinc by immersion in chromium trioxide solution and the loss in weight used as the measure of degree of corrosion. This is a very sensitive method but even more care has to be taken than in the contact method to avoid contamination and to obtain reproducible results. 

While the depression of plasma and/or RBC cholinesterase may be detected after exposure to very large amounts of carbamates, enzyme activity usually recovers rapidly--within minutes to hours. Hence these tests can be misleading unless one of the rapid methods for testing cholinesterase activity has been employed. A more sensitive and specific absorption test for several of the carbamate pesticides is the measurement of their metabolites in the urine within 48 hours of exposure. Carbamate pesticides are sufficiently acutely toxic that those attending the victim must avoid contact with contaminated apparel or vomitus, and should wear rubber gloves during decontamination of hair and skin of the victim. 

All mercuric compounds are extremely toxic, and thus there are health hazards associated with the use of the mercuric chloride-diphenyl car-bazone reagent. Testing should ideally be carried out in a fume cupboard, with standard safety procedures being observed, e.g. the use of rubber gloves, etc. In addition, there is the risk of potential contamination of the working area - this should be thoroughly cleaned after use. Finally, special precautions need to made with respect to the disposal of any waste materials after testing has been carried out. 

Cork or rubber stoppers - for the protection of the contents of test tubes from contamination and for safe storage. 

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