# Presentation: 003395

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

**Materials & Fire Test Working Group **
**March 5 – 6, 2003**
**Atlantic City, NJ**
**Daniel Slaton**
**Boeing Materials Technology**
**Payloads Materials & Fire Technology**

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Topics
- Communication of New Task Group
- Airline Survey Form Development
- Request for Airline  Participation
- Contamination /Aging Literature Search
- General Contamination Lab Results
- Insulation Blanket Film Aging Studies
- Future Activities

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Communication of New Task Group To Industry**February 4, 2003**Letter to ATA, IATA, & AEA From Dick Hill

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Format courtesy of Peter Short, BAB

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- The following was requested of
- several domestic airlines:
- Onsite visit by Task Group representatives.
- A schedule of upcoming heavy maintenance activity for all airplane models and locations.
- An airline contact name and phone number to coordinate activities for this effort.
- Samples of insulation blankets that been replaced during standard maintenance.

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Contamination Search Goals:_
- General fire testing approaches, procedures, and test data involving the effect of contamination.
- Identify definitions of “contamination.”
- Determine test methods used to quantify contamination (dirt, dust, lint...) and systematic ways for applying levels of contamination.

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Contamination Search Results:_
- Identification of industrial test reports from *Combustion and Flame* periodical.
- Other searches still in progress.

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Aging __Search Goals:_
- General search within the *Journal of Polymer Degradation* on degradation kinetics.
- Summarize test methods used to evaluate changes in polymer morphology.
- Summarize thermal and hydrolytic degradation methodology for use on polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Aging __Search Results:_
- Summarized potential test methods used to evaluate polymer morphological changes.
- Summarized physical aging test approaches on PET.

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Summary of Testing Methodology to Characterize Polymer Morphology Degradation (based on PET)

- _DSC_ - determines degradation kinetics (Tg, endotherms, percent crystallinity)
- _TGA_ - degradation temperatures, onset and average.
- _TMA _- determine CTE (indication of shrinkage force)
- A_TR-IR_ - detect changes in the chemical “fingerprint”
- _Polarized Light Microscopy_ - thin film micrographs that differentiate morphology (crystalline and amorphous phases).
- _SEM_ – evaluate morphology and sperulite sizes after etching

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Laboratory Tests Performed:_
- Polarized Light Microscopy performed on solids.
- FTIR Analysis performed on solids removed from the surface and on solvent soluble debris.
- Microprobe (elemental analysis)

- Tests used on in-service insulation blanket

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Lab Results on Contamination

- _Microscopy & Microprobe Results: _
- Resinous lumps, amber brown
- Rubber/elastomer fragment
- Metallic shaving
- Inorganic particles (dirt)
- Mineral grains including quartz, calcite/CaCOs, clay fines
- Fiberglass fibers, some with polymer coating/binder
- Cellulose fibers
- Synthetic fibers (cloth type fibers, Dacron, Nylon...)
- Paint flakes
- Mammal hair/fur
- Insect parts
- Plant tissue, pollen grains, seeds

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _FTIR Examination:_
- Hydrocarbon waxy materials (similar to industry CICs)
- Hydrocarbon materials (hydraulic fluids similar to Skydrol)
- Silicone based materials (adhesives, sealants)
- Epoxy based materials (adhesives, composites)

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- _Isothermal Thermal Aging:_  Isothermal Aging at 120F, 140F, 160F, and 200F.
- _Humidity Chamber Aging:_  Isothermal Aging at 120F/100%RH, 140F/100%RH, and 160F/100%RH
- _Thermal Cycle Testing of Sealed Insulation Blanket:_  Thermal cycling from –65F to 120F for 1200 cycles.  Periodic injection of H20 into the sealed insulation blanket to maintain constant water in contact with the film._ __ _

- The following tests have been initiated using a PET insulation blanket film:

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Finalize Airline Contamination Survey Form, formalize notification process, and request airline survey participation.
- Survey airlines and summarize common types of contamination.
- Summarize CIC usage and any flammability test data on CICs.
- Develop improved test methods for evaluating CIC flammability.
- Identify and evaluate production application processes used by OEM’s, maintenance manual procedures, and Airline maintenance processes that may introduce fly-away “contamination”.

## Contamination /Aging Task Group

- Identify other components/materials (besides insulation blankets), that have significant area, quantity, etc...that could be a potential fuel source in a fire.
- Use a rigorous methodology (CAST approach) to prioritize those component/materials that will provide the biggest safety benefit. *(**e.g. FAA large scale test evaluating heat release showed little effect by small thermoplastic components/tray tables)*
- Request an update of the 9/2002 benefit analysis report on hidden area fires to more specifically address contamination. [*DOT/FAA/AR-02/50, A Benefit Analysis for Enhanced Protection from Fires in Hidden Areas on Transport Aircraft, by RGW Cherry*]