_STP_406-1966.pdf

FIRE RESISTANCE OF HYDRAULIC FLUIDS d A symposium presented at a meeting of Committee D-2 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants,AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS,and Committee A-6 on Aerospace Fluid Power Tech-nology,SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS New Orleans,La.,Jan.26 and 27,1966 ASTM SPECIAL TECHNICAL PUBLICATION NO.406 List price$6.75;30 per cent discount to members published by the AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS 1916 Race Street,Philadelphia,Pa.19103 BY AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS 1966 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:66-29263 NOTE The Society is not responsible,as a body,for the statements and opinions advanced in this publication.Printed in Alpha,N.November,196G FOREWORD This Symposium on Test Methods for Fire Resistance of Hydraulic Fluids and Lubricants was presented Jan.26 and 27,1966 at the ASTM Committee D-2 Week in New Orleans,La.The symposium was spon-sored by ASTM Committee D-2 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and SAE Committee A-6 on Aerospace Fluid Power Technology.A.R.Lansdown,English Ministry of Aviation,was presiding officer at the first session;R.L.Leslie,Vickers,Inc.,presided at the second session;and R.E.Hatton,Monsanto Co.,presided at the third session.The Symposium Committee consisted of these three with Dr.Hatton serving as chairman.During the symposium,a number of motion pictures were shown,which graphically illustrated various fire resistance test methods.These movies pointed out the great difficulty of reducing performance in fire resistance tests to words or to mathematical ratings.The papers include references to most of the movies shown.However,to complete the record,brief descriptions of two movies not so included are given here.S.P.Polack of the U.S.Bureau of Mines presented a film which demonstrated test methods used in Bureau of Mines Schedule 30,Sub-chapter E,Part 35 on Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids.Three tests were included:autogenous-ignition temperature test,temperature-pressure spray-ignition test,and test to determine effect of evaporation on flam-mability(often referred to as the pipe cleaner test).The performances of two fluids petroleum oil and a water-oil emulsion were shown in each of the tests.In all cases the emulsion-type fluid showed signifi-cantly better fire-resistance properties.R.E.Hatton of Monsanto Co.presented a movie showing per-formance of four types of aircraft hydraulic fluids hydrocarbon,sili-cate ester-type,phosphate ester,and halogenated polyaryl in a simu-lated hot aircraft brake.The fluid was introduced into an aircraft brake unit modified so that it could be heated internally by electric heaters.Fluid was poured into the interior of the brake assembly through a small hole.Burning on contact with the heated brake and flame propa-gation characteristics were both determined.The temoerature was 850 C(1560 F);with fluid flow rates of 500 and 2000 ml/min.The four fluids showed wide differences in fire resistance.The hydrocarbon burned on contact and carried flame from the brake,the silicate-ester burned less vigorously but did propagate flame,the phosphate ester flashed on the drum but did not propagate flame,and the halogenated polyaryl fumed but did not flash or ignite.iii Contents Introduction R.E.HATTON 1 An Apparatus for Studying the Fire Resistance of Hydraulic Fluids at Elevated Pressures j.A,MARZANI 3 Hydraulic Fluid Closed Compartment Fire Tests K.A.KANDER 19 A Simplified Spray-Flammability Test for Hydraulic Fluids H.H.ROWAND,JR.AND L.B.SARGENT,JR 28 Comments on Aircraft Fluid Fire Hazard Assessment R.S.MCCORD.40 Assessment of the Flammability of Aircraft Fluids J.A.MACDONALD 4 4 The Ignition of Flammable Fluids by Hot Surfaces D.G.GOODALL AND R.INGLE 64 Industrial and ASTM Fluid Fire-Test Programs c.L.EARLY AND R.E.HATTON 105 Miniaturized Tests for Fire Resistance of Hydraulic Fluids D.E.JOHNSON AND N.W.FURBY 135 Spontaneous Ignition Testing for High-Speed Aircraft W.F.HAMILTON AND R.A.HOLLOWAY 150 Survey of Techniques for the Evaluation of the Fire Resistance Properties of Aviation Hydraulic Fluids R.ALAN C.KER 169 STP406-EB/Nov.1966 INTRODUCTION By R.E.Hatton1 Interest in and use of fire resistant fluids and lubricants has increased rapidly in recent years.Many questions have arisen concerning such subjects as the meaning of fire resist-ance,the methods of assessing fire resistance,the relation of test data to actual hazards in use and the interrelations be-tween test methods.The purposes of this symposium were to make available current data and philosophical thought on these subjects through presentation of papers by those active in fire resistant fluid and lubricant development and use.-This infor-mation should be invaluable to those charged with system design,fluid selection,and study of fire hazards in a wide range of industry-from the depths of the sea to the wide reaches of space.A major reason for this symposium is the widespread differ-ences of opinion that appear between thos