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Argon gas analysis to predict water leakage into the W88.

DE91000090

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	Gillen, K. T.
Page Count	40
Abstract	Analyses of the internal argon gas concentrations monitored on surveillance units of the W84 indicates that field aging of this weapon for times up to (approximately)4 years does not lead to important increases in the rate at which water leaks into the interior of the weapon. This implies that the EPDM environmental seals used on the W84 do not age significantly over this time period. By comparing the percentages of oxygen and argon in the internal atmosphere, an estimate of the oxygen consumption rate is made for a typical W84 unit. The argon gas analysis approach is then applied to the W88, which is sealed with a new EPDM material. Predictive expressions are derived which relate the anticipated argon gas concentrations of future, field-returned units to their water leakage rates. The predictions are summarized in convenient plots, which can be immediately and easily applied to surveillance data as reported. Since the argon approach is sensitive enough to be useful over the entire lifetime of the W88, it can be used to point out leaking units and to determine whether long-term aging has any significant effect on the new EPDM material. 11 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
Keywords	Gaskets Leaks Aging Weapons Argon Monitoring Submarines Water Vapor Gas analysis Nuclear weapons EDB/450000 EDB/420500
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
NTIS Subject Category	74H - Nuclear Warfare 71L - Materials Degradation & Fouling 94J - Nondestructive Testing
Corporate Authors	Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM.; Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199104
Contract Number	AC04-76DP00789

Argon gas analysis to predict water leakage into the W88.

Argon gas analysis to predict water leakage into the W88.
DE91000090

Publication Date	1990
Personal Author	Gillen, K. T.
Page Count	40
Abstract	Analyses of the internal argon gas concentrations monitored on surveillance units of the W84 indicates that field aging of this weapon for times up to (approximately)4 years does not lead to important increases in the rate at which water leaks into the interior of the weapon. This implies that the EPDM environmental seals used on the W84 do not age significantly over this time period. By comparing the percentages of oxygen and argon in the internal atmosphere, an estimate of the oxygen consumption rate is made for a typical W84 unit. The argon gas analysis approach is then applied to the W88, which is sealed with a new EPDM material. Predictive expressions are derived which relate the anticipated argon gas concentrations of future, field-returned units to their water leakage rates. The predictions are summarized in convenient plots, which can be immediately and easily applied to surveillance data as reported. Since the argon approach is sensitive enough to be useful over the entire lifetime of the W88, it can be used to point out leaking units and to determine whether long-term aging has any significant effect on the new EPDM material. 11 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.
Keywords	Gaskets Leaks Aging Weapons Argon Monitoring Submarines Water Vapor Gas analysis Nuclear weapons EDB/450000 EDB/420500
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
NTIS Subject Category	74H - Nuclear Warfare 71L - Materials Degradation & Fouling 94J - Nondestructive Testing
Corporate Authors	Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM.; Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	199104
Contract Number	AC04-76DP00789