Document YreBy3E8er0Qpom3rXLpwOz9n

cc: V. J. Labrecque cc: R. H. Bates L. Winchester R. McGranahan H. Oehr November 10, 196? To: W. J. Sheehan From: C. I. Hayden SUBJECT: VICTOPAC re: Binder Analysis The recent fiasco concerning Canadian Victopac once again raised the question of adequate testing methods to measure per cent binder. Sev eral months ago the Materials Development Laboratory investigated a piece of equipment manufactured by the Laboratory Equipment Company (LECO) which is capable of quantatively analyzing the per cent carbon present in a given sample. The principle behind this approach was our ability to relate the per cent of elemental carbon to the per cent of rubber present. The prin cipal advantage of this particular unit is that such a determination could be made rapidly enough to test stock before dumping from a mixer. At that point in time it conceivable that gross irregularities in the per cent of rubber present could be corrected thus salvaging an otherwise bad batch of material. . The disadvantages of this system are the cost of approximately $3,000, and the fact that it is completely inflexible. That is, it is only good for this particular analysis and very little if anything else. If this type of equipment would be of interest to manufacturing as a control tool, we would be most happy to work with you in selecting the precise components necessary and establishment of various sources of this equipment. Materials Development Laboratory CIH:pt C. I. Hayden VPD-91-0002399 DANA-096 i