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Bdl Laboratories Suajeci Protective Clothing Suitable For Clear. Room Use Providing Fire Resistance Case 48100-1 oai* August 17, 1983 ,'r' D. Rainer MH 78691 1F-104 X7512 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD Introduction Fires associated with metal alkyls, the most notable of which occurred when an MTS accidently ignited methanol with trimethylaluminum melting a polyester lab coat, has focused attention on the need for fire resistant protective clothing. Traditionally, protective clothing worn in the clean room environment has been designed to protect product from partic ulate. Many of these garments also afford personal protec tion against chemical contact but new technologies requiring use of pyrophoric chemicals present new obstacles in personal protection. This Memorandum reviews the suitability of various fabrics in protecting against burn injuries and reviews data relative to particulate levels associated with various fabrics. Recommendations All persons directly handling pyrophoric materials should wear protective clothing consisting of face shield, safety glasses, flame retardant lab coat and heavy gloves if manual dexterity is not required. Nomex* gloves should be worn if manual dexterity is required. Nomex is the choice material for construction of protective garments when handling pyrophoric materials. Nomex lab coats may be ordered from any lab safety supply catalogue (or consult with EHMSS Center). PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT ATT-384 LLA 001844 2 Method Vendors were contacted and asked to provide information on garments that were both suitable for clean room use and exhibited fire resistance. Lab coats were also ordered from a safety supply house based on literature found in brochures that listed fabrics as fire retardant and suitable for clean room use. Fabrics assembled for testing included teflon coated Gore-tex", nomex, a monofilament nomex, modacrylic, and polyester, the cloth traditionally used to make clean room garments. Fabrics were tested for fire resistance by subjecting them to an insult of metal alkyls. The decision to test the fabrics against the metal alkyls was based on the premise that the metal alkyls burn extremely hot and protection afforded against them is likely to be a good indicator that the fabric will protect against lower burning temperature materials. Testing of the fabric was conducted at Texas Alkyls. To test for fire resistance the procedure normally used by Texas Alkyls to evaluate the fire retardancy of fabrics was used. A swatch of material (about 10" x 10") was exposed to 0.5ml of neat (undiluted) trimethylaluminum (TMAL). A temperature probe which was placed between the test fabric and a piece of filter paper was used to monitor the thermal increase around the area of exposure (see Figure 1.) The combination of the temperature rise and physical condition of the cloth and filter paper after the test are used as criteria for judging the utility of the fabric. The following practices were followed (see Figure 1) OBJECTIVE PROCEDURE KEY POINTS Prepare cloth and testing apparatus a. Test material and filter a. The asbestos pad serves paper are secured to the as a non-combustible, asbestos pad at each nonconductive surface corner with ball joint to rigidly suspend the clamps. This test stage test material. The is mounted in a horizon filter paper enables tal plane with buret the analyst to visually clamp at a height of 45 to 50 cm from the bench surfaces. See Figure 1 observe the effect of alkyl exposure to the area underneath the for details. cloth due to seepage through the porous cloth. Any additional damage to the filter paper due to destruc tion of the cloth can be assessed in this manner. LLA 001845 3 b. Position the temperature b. The temperature probe probe between the filter must be positioned at paper and test material this location to allow with the probe tip 3 cm a large enough area for from the materials's alkyl exposure. This edge. The probe is location enables dupli secured with a ball cation of the test in joint clamp. order to increase con fidence in the results. Exposure of cloth to testing agents a. Withdraw 0.5 ml of metal a alkyls into a 2 ml syringe assembly. Lab coat and face shield must be worn during this part of the test. b. With the needle tip at a b. It is important not to height of 2 cm above the exceed the 4 cm deliv cloth (no more than 4 ery distance so that cm), deliver 0.5 ml of the neat alkyls do not the testing agent on the have time to build up cloth directly above the heat and ignite. Hake probe tip. sure the fume hood "is on. After determining that nomex provided superior fire resistant qualities it was evaluated for clean room use. Visual inspection of the regular nomex showed that the material sheds a large amount of particulate. The monofilament nomex did not shed so it was evaluated for detachable particulate by Messrs. 6. Belmke and D. Raver (52169) (see Appendix I). After being laundered by a commercial laundry (3 washes with water and detergent, 1 wash with perchloroethylene, 2 clear water rinses) the garment was tested in the automatic airborne particulate monitoring equipment at BTL-MH. To determine if faceshields worn at BTL provide adequate protection against splashes of THAL they were also evaluated. 0.5ml of THAI, was placed directly onto the face shield (see results). LLfl 001846 ty o f c le a n roon. A tta ch e d P hoto 5 and 6 LLA 001847 *--4 <N m O* x u A0 C a no 4> a jo x <0 G *J 4 -X X> 3 U a) <0 O.T3 0) <Q u 41 TJ <T3 <9 -x jC A c U0 41 u Xl C ffl 3 tH 0 oa U X H X* iQ e 0 -D xi A 3O 4 VU V i> JZ -X XI ^ 3 CO *H u O 4) 4i a 4J Qa G Xl ^ g C-H O ii 0 U* 3O Q,i-4 XI X coo G o <u hH 0 <9 0 cp-- A 0) M C Vi 4) O 3 6U 0 o o C <*4 XI U3 at Sou Mu H 0 0 <*i G OH4J C U-O e x 41 <Q 41 Q* o Eh -- D cX* x --i ro Oi -4 43 cn h 3 CJ U E U U 0 30 0 (ABuK G Q4*X Eu 41 .a E-> n b Xl u 4) a> *o O' c -X D tc u *u Vi o a C0 o a< X Xl Vi -X 41 *0 xi C r-l O -4 Ub <a u 4 C *A -O4 Su aj <U U < o -x * u tH e Q* o a*-< -h < e xi m H M TJ 41 O cu O <w o< o 41 xl 03 41 E"t u X U a IQ a. zo A 41 > 04 X 04 04 O' O' Cc H X Vi Vi uU <0 a Gu Xl XI O' O' X X rX aa o c a 1c o -o -U O -U O to O' u o uu a> at >a XI O' c *X 0 H -X A xi Q 1u 0 TJ XI 0u ov CP Qi XI c 41 e IQ H -X X vu X 41 s 0c ag: o oo z Z A 41 X 0 0 04 o G c u 3 % Vi o O JC a o' 3 NO Vi Vi > ** o 41 XI H g e >, X 41 Xl 41 H a E 0 o E 0U OV OS XI A C 41 * >i 4) iH HO U 0W o Z >0 (TV H O 41 c 34 3 b Vi o 0 Q< O' 3 >i O Vi Vi V >U "0 V c Vi 3 >i -( V XI HV gB 0 O G *4 t~4 5h U G 3 "0 0 A 41 X i-H O* rH 10 (0 X >H Uu xl XI uo 04 O0m i-4 ^ o <o at vc uu U3 JC o >, HH H >, J 41 10 Hx X x Xl Vi 41 Vi x; xi -h xi O' Qi H -U 6 'O ^H ffl O C 0H PM >i o 0V 0U o> V fX hW Ss* It 0 >G rX iX 00 XX Vi Vi TJ cx> xi 41 u TJ U OC3 ex 04 1 'O 4) XI >Q 0 OX c 41 u 01 *X 41 Xi Vi GO Eh 13 1 1 1 in X* \ \ i i i c 0 X 1 XI 0 c u XI 4J G (X c rX 41 G Qi o K0 41 C MW 0 xi ix x a 41 -C xi -x U G Cl P) *< OG ^< G o P3 Q I LIN020: o 5 Discussion - Conclusion Nomex fabric, other than being fire retardant, also inherently provides protection against acids and caustics. It is however being recommended only for special applications because of its high cost. Regular nomex lab coats cost about $50.00, while monofilament coats cost about $150.00. At the present time Vidaro (see Appendix II for ordering information) is the only known vendor selling this monofilament material. Vidaro will also manufacture gloves of monofilament nomex for individuals needing hand protection. The nomex should afford greater manual dexterity then other fire retardant gloves which are of heavier construction. Ues of nomex protective garments when handling pyrophoric materials or where there is danger of fire will significantly lessen the risk of personal injury from fire. MH-78691-DR-gap Atts. As above Copy to R. A. Boudman C. L. Fraust D. H. Gittelman A. U. Heushkel L. J. Kaitz J. P. Spollen A. E. Widner R. Bhat G. D. Boyd J. Bressi G. Burkhardt J. J. Coughlin W. W. Crawford R. Dupuis S. R. Eagels P. Foy V. C. Garbarini G. Higashi S. Hummel W. D. Johnston v. Narayanamurti D. Raver W. J. Schreibeis G. M. Wilkening David Rainer Reading Allentown Reading ERC 222 Broadway 222 Broadway Kansas City ) ) WE ) LLA 001848 FIGURE I HORI?-OIMTftL POSITION --1 T ILA 001849