Monitoring of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) contamination of cockpit air was undertaken in three types of military aircraft [fighter trainer (FT), fighter bomber (FB), and cargo transport (CT) aircraft]. The aircraft had a previous history of pilot complaints about cockpit air contamination suspected to originate from the engine bleed air supply through the entry of aircraft turbine engine oil (ATO) into the engine compressor. Air samples were collected in flight and on the ground during engine runs using sorbent tubes packed with Porapak Q and cellulose filters. A total of 78 air samples were analysed, from 46 different aircraft, and 48 samples were found to be below the limit of detection. Nine incidents of smoke/odour were identified during the study. The concentrations of toxic o-cresyl phosphate isomers were below the level of detection in all samples. The highest total TCP concentration was 51.3 μg m(-3), while most were generally found to be <5 μg m(-3) compared with the 8-h time-weighted average exposure limit of 100 μg m(-3) for tri-o-cresyl phosphate. The highest concentrations were found at high engine power. Although TCP contamination of cabin/cockpit air has been the subject of much concern in aviation, quantitative data are sparse.

SynopsisDichromate cured polysulfide sealants have superior resistance to swelling in hot water than those cured with manganese dioxide and examinations to identify the reasons for this difference were undertaken. The commercial sealants PR-1422, PR-1750, and Pro-Seal 899 were shown to contain similar types and loading of fillers. Crosslink densities were compared through a procedure involving an oscillating disc cure meter modified to accommodate mobile mixtures. No relationship between stability and crosslinking was observed. Formation of large voids in Mn0,-cured sealants after prolonged immersion at 7O-9O0C, suggests the formation of a water-soluble acid which then reacts with the CaC03 filler, and this was supported by pH measurements. The acid was shown to arise through autoxidation of formal groups in the polysulfide, and this process can be suppressed by radical scavengers (including ammonium dichromate). When PR-1750 was examined under nitrogen or with carbon black as filler, a similar time-swell curve to that of PR-1422 was produced. It was concluded that abnormal swell does not result simply from autoxidation: a filler capable of reacting with the acid must also be present.

No abstract

No abstract