Methodology for Long-Term Permeation Test Periods for HD in High-Density Polyethylene: Universal Munitions Storage Container for the Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Program

As part of the Explosive Destruction System for the Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Program, the Universal Munitions Storage Container was evaluated as a storage candidate for over-packing leaking and non-leaking munitions that contain chemical warfare agents. A 12 year storage period was the program target. Permeation experiments were performed with a series of material thicknesses over a 13 month period, and thickness versus breakthrough time was extrapolated to the 12 year target. Permeation breakthrough measurements for distilled mustard HD and non-welded high-density polyethylene HDPE at 120 F were completed for thicknesses of 2080 mil for extrapolation to the 250 mil container thickness. A Ficks law extrapolation inferred a breakthrough time of 1011 days for the 250 mil non-welded HDPE at 120 F. It is unlikely that a 250 mil thick HDPE container will provide safe containment for the target 1 year period. A custom methodology was developed for the long permeation periods. Expected breakthrough times and, therefore, test times were unknown thus various permeation times were included in the experimental plan. The methodology developed was successful in providing the necessary measurements. This long-term methodology provides a new capability in permeation cup testing