This test program was initiated because a need existed at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to have this information readily available to the engineer who must make the choice of which electrostatic safe floor to use in a specific application. The information, however, should be of value throughout both the government and private industry in the selection of a floor covering material. Included are the test results of 18 floor covering materials which by test evaluation at KSC are considered electrostatically safe. Tests were done and/or the data compiled in the following areas: electrostatics, flammability, hypergolic compatibility, outgassing, floor type, material thickness, and available colors. Each section contains the test method used to gather the data and the test results

Gompf, R. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NASA Technical Memorandum 103501
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Physical And Chemical Test Results Of
Electrostatic Safe Flooring Materials
April 1988
(NASA-TM-I0350i) PHYSICAL AND CHEMTCAL TEST
RESULTS OF ELECTROSTATIC SAFE FLOORfNG
MA/FR[ALS (NASA) 21 p CSCL ]3B
G3/31
N91-I0194
Unc13s
0309751
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19910000881 2020-03-19T20:20:26+00:00Z
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NASA Tech-Jcal Memorandum 103501 -
Physical And Chemical Test Results Of
Electrostatic Safe Flooring Materials
R. H. Gompf, PE
Engineering Development Directorate
Mechanical Engineering Directorate
Materials Science Laboratory
Materials Testing Branch
April 1988
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
John F, Kennedy Space Center
tUA.SA

DOCUMENT NO. MTB-316-87
• 4. TEST REPORT
Physical and Chemical Test Results of
Electrostatic Safe Flooring Materials
ISSUED BY
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Kennedy Space Center
Materials Testing Branch
PREPARED BY:
R. Go
Materials Testing Branch
APPROVED BY:
C . Spr,.-gfie_, NASA
Chief, Materials Testing Branch
ii
NOTICE: This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the
United States Government nor any person acting on behalf of the
United States Government assumes any liability resulting from the
use of the information contained in this document, or warrants
that such use will be free from privately owned rights.
The citation of manufacturer's names, trademarks or other product
identification in this document does not constitute an
endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products.
/ i ii
b_L ......
iii
ABSTRACT
This test program was initiated because a need existed at the
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to have this information readily
available to the engineer who must make the choice of which
electrostatic safe floor to use in a specific application. The
information contained in this study, however, should be of value
throughout both the government and private industry in the
selection of a floor covering material.
Included in this report are the test results of 18 floor covering
materials which by test evaluation at KSC are considered
electrostatically safe (i.e., these coverings satisfy the KSC
electrostatic safety criteria). Tests were done and/or the data
compiled in the following areas:
(I)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Electrostatics.
Fl ammabi l ity.
Hypergol ic compatibility.
Outgassing.
Floor type.
Material thickness.
Available col ors.
Each section contains the test method used to gather the data,
the KSC acceptance criteria (when applicable), and the test
results. A "quick-look" summary of the test results is shown on
page IV.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
-T
PAGE
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............... ,., .....................
2.0 ELECTROSTATIC TESTING ..............................
2.1 Test Specification ................ ,, ..........
2.2 Acceptance Criteria ...........................
2.3 Results ................ ,......................
2
3
3
3
3.0 FLAMMABILITY .......................................
3.1 Test Specification ............................
3.2 Acceptance Criteria ...........................
3.3 Results ...................... , ................
4
4
4
5
4.0 HYPERGOLIC COMPATIBILITY TESTING ....... , ...........
4.1 Test Specification ............................
4.2 Acceptance Criteria ...........................
4.3 Results .......................................
5
5
5
5
5.0 OUTGASSING TESTING .................................
5.1 Test Specification ............................
5.2 Acceptance Criteria ...........................
5.3 Results .............. ,........................
5
6
6
6
TABLES ............................. • ..................... 7-10
APPENDIX A - MANUFACTURERS OF MATERIALS TESTED
1.0 INTRODUCTION
TT-
Floor covering materials are used quite extensively at
KSC to satisfy the flooring needs in a large variety of
building types. Some applications include the assembly of
payloads and the mating of upper stage solid or liquid
rocket boosters. Other applications may include chemical
or electronic laboratories, office complexes, and
industrial facilities. In some applications the floor
loading may be only foot traffic while in others it may be
forklift traffic, much heavier vehicular traffic, or large
and heavy air lift pallets which requlire a smooth seamless
floor. While each of these applications may require
various special flooring requirements the one requirement
common to all is that the floor must be of a material which
does not generate or retain large electrostatic voltages.
The flooring materials selected for testing in this study
were selected by an exhaustive review of the Thomas
Register for all floor materials advertised or known as
having good electrostatic properties as well as a thorough
search at technical conferences such as the annual EOS/ESD
Symposium. It was the author's attempt to locate every
floor material manufacturer which made a floor material
that would pass the KSC electrostatic safety criteria.
Many companies contacted did not have such a product
available while others provided samples of materials that
failed to satisfy this standard. The materials listed in
this report were therefore selected by a thorough search
and testing process to identify electrostatic safe flooring
materials (note: Those that did not pass the electrostatic
test were not included in this study). In such a study it
may be safe to assume that some products escaped being
considered but it is likely most of the products believed
/._ i¸"
2.0
to have satisfactory electrostatic properties were included
in this study.
Over the past 20 years flooring materials have been
routinely tested in the NASA Materials Testing Laboratory,
but only for specific applications, as the use directed.
This routine testing has resulted in a large quantity of
data but it has never been compiled into a single file. In
addition, complete testing of all properties was not done
for every material. The purpose of this study was,
therefore, to establish a more complete technical data base
for electrostatically safe floorings from which the
responsible engineer could select the flooring that best
suits the technical needs of the application. Th_s
flooring materials data base includes the following tested
properties: (I) Electrostatic, (2) flammability,
(3) nypergolic compatibility, and (4) outgassing. In
addition, the following other material properties have been
included: (I) Floor type, (2) material thickness, and (3)
available color. Included in this report are the test
methods used, the acceptance criteria used by KSC, and the
test results. A summary of the data is included on page IV
of this report.
ELECTROSTATIC TESTING
(
Increasing attention is being given to the problem of
static electricity because of its ability to damage or
destroy certain semiconductor devices, unexpectedly
initiate ordnance devices, ignite explosive atmospheres,
and surprise workers performing critical tasks, causing
undesirable consequences and injuries to occur. The
triboelectric test device used to evaluate the
electrostatic properties of the materials in this report
was developed at KSC. It evaluates two distinct
electrostatic properties of a material. One is the
material's capability to develdp a charge. This property
is Shown by the peak triboelectric voltage generated. The
second property is the ability to discharge this surface
electrical charge to a grounded frame. This is best shown
by the decay curve shape and/or the voltage remaining 5
seconds after rubbing has ceased,
2.1
2.2
Test Specification - (1979, Malfunction/Materials
Analysis Section, Materials Analysis Branch, Fluids
and Analysis Division, Ground Systems Directorate.
MMA-1985-79, Rev. 1) The floor samples were cut into
7.6-inch square samples. These samples were then
stored for a minimum of 24 hours at 30% relative
humidity. After storage, they were mounted in the
grounded test fixture and tested at this humidity.
The test consisted of rubbing each test sample for 10
seconds with a foam-backed felt Teflon rubbing wheel
to triboelectrically generate the charge, The charged
sample was then placed in front of the detector head
which measured the surface voltage generated, This
voltage was received by a digital storage oscilloscope
which produced a display of voltage versus time as
well as a digital readout.
Electrostatic Acceptance Criteria - Materials were
considered acceptable for use at KSC if the
electrostatic voltage generated by the triboelectric
device decayed below 350 volts in 5 seconds.
2.3 Table I lists the results and evaluations of the
electrostatic testing at 30% relative humidity.
I
3.0 FLAMMABILITY TESTING
A fire near the orbiters, payloads, ordnance materials,
hypergols, or practically anywhere at KSC could potentially
destroy millions of dollars worth of equipment and endanger
hundreds of lives. To reduce the risk of fire, materials
in controlled areas must decrease the probability of
ignition to a minimum and restrict potential fires to
well-defined isolated areas. The following flooring
materials parameters are used to determine the flammability
characteristics: Combustibility, propagation rate,
self-extinguishing properties, and total burn time.
3.1 Test Specification - AVO dated August 2, 1979,
Subject: Requirements for carpet at KSC/CCAFS. The
test is a modified version of ASTM D635. The flooring
material was cut into six 6" x 1/2" samples. Each
sample was in turn mounted horizontally by a clamp
holding one end of the sample. The flame was applied
to the unmounted end by a "Cleanweld B igniter." This
igniter has a diameter of (J.125 inches and is one inch
long. The igniter is ignited by three turns of 20
gauge bare nickel chromium wire which is caused to
glow by a direct current power source. The blue tip
of this flame just contacts one edge of the test
sample.
3.2 Acceptance Criteria - Materials shall be considered
noncombustible, or self,extinguishing if, less than
5 inches of the sample is consumed. A failure of any
one of six samples constitutes failure of the
material.
3.3 Results - Table 2 lists the burn lengths, burn times,
propagation rates, and the overall pass or fail
evaluation of each material.
4.0 HYPERGOLIC COMPATIBILITY TESTING
The hypergolic compatibility test identifies those floor
materials that may not resist hypergolic exposure.
4.1 Test Specification - The test samples were tested for
compatibility with the following hypergolic fluids:
Monomethyl hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide, and
hydrazine. In this test the samples were cut into
2-!nch squares and immersed in the appropriate
nypergolic fluid for one hour. These specimens were
then rinsed with distilled water, air dried, and
observed for any visible effects.
4.2
T
Acceptance Criteria - The material shall not ignite
nor have penetration through the sample.
4.3 Results - Table 3 lists the results of the hypergolic
compatibility tests.
5.0 OUTGASSING TEST
v._ .
_ _r_
Flooring materials are used in and around the shuttle
spacecraft and its variety of payloads. However, it is
possible that the flooring material itself could become a
source of contamination, especially to sensitive optical
surfaces. This type of contamination could occur through
the outgassing of vapors that recondense on an optical
surface. Certain systems of the shuttle orbiter and its
payloads are especially sensitive to this type of
contamination. The outgassing test is done to evaluate the
6, •
flooring material with adhesive applied to a thin metal
foil backing as a potential source of contamination. The
parameters measured are: total mass loss (TML), collected
volatile condensable materials (CVCM), and water vapor
regained (WVR).
5.1 Test Specification - (ASTM Method E595-83) The tests
for TML, CVCM, and WVR were done as specified in the
reference ASTM test. Briefly stated, the test
specimen is conditioned in a degreased container
(boat) at 23°C and 50% relative humidity for 24
hours. The boat with the sample is then weighed and
placed in a vacuum below 10-4 Torr with the sample
temperature maintained at 125°C. The vapor released
from the sample is condensed on a previously weighed
collector plate maintained at 25°C. After 24 hours,
the vacuum chamber is repressurized with a dry inert
gas and the specimen and collector plates are
weighed. The sample is then stored for 24 hours at
23°C and 50% relative humidity and again weighed. The
TML, CVCM, and WVR are then calculated from the test
data.
5.2 Acceptance Criteria - The material's TML should not
exceed 1.0% and the CVCM should not exceed 0.1%.
These values for TML and CVCM may be surpassed with
the approval of the appropriate materials engineer.
5.3 Results - Table 4 shows the results of the TML, CVCM,
and WVR tests.
(
TABLE 1 - ELECTROSTATIC
30% RELATIVE
TEST DATA
HUMIDITY
- VOLTAGE
MATERIAL NAME MFGR.
F
i, SD-52
2. CON-2
3. DEXOTEX, CHEMINERT
4. DEXOTEX, AJ-53C
5. STONCLAD AT
6. STONLUX AT
7, NORAPLAN DUO EL
8. NORAPLAN DUO EL
9. NORAMENT 928
10. NORAPLAN 938
11. NORAMENT 927
12. FLEXCO CLASS A
13. FLEXCO CLASS B
14. SPARK PROOF
15. RED TOPCOAT
16. NOVALITE
17. UNIFLOOR STATIC
18. UNIFLOOR CONDUCTIVE
VPI
VPI
CROSSFIELD
CROSSFIELD
STONEHARD
STONEHARD
NORA
NORA
NORA
NORA
NORA
FLEXCO
FLEXCO
WEATHERGUARD
WEATHERGUARD
SELBY
DATWYLAR
DATWYLER
PEAK
722
247
207
187
198
644
-149
240
30]L
301
127
436
344
185
215
309
224
185
5 SEC.
<
<
249
143
129
104
185
255
100
111
110
100
100
299
201
100
I00
168
100
100
PASS/FAIL
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
t PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
PASS
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TABLE 4 - OUTGASSING
MATERIAL NAME I MFGR.
I •
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7,
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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18.
SD-52
CON-2
DEXOTEX, CHEMINERT
OEXOTEX, AJ-53C
STONCLAD AT
STONLUX AT
NORAPLAN DUO EL
NORAPLAN DUO EL
NORAMENT 928
NORAPLAN 938
NORAMENT 927
FLEXCO CLASS A
FLEXCO CLASS B
SPARK PROOF
RED TOPCOAT
NOVALITE
UNIFLOOR STATIC
UNIFLOOR CONDUCTIVE
VPI
VP!
CROSSFIELD
CROSSFIELD
STONEHARD
STONEHARD
NORA
NORA
NORA
NORA
NORA
FLEXCO
FLEXCO
WEATHERGUARD
WEATHERGUARD
SELBY
DATWYLAR
DATWYLER
TML
4
4
1
(%)
.98
.62
.43
WVR (%)
0.04
0.04
0.42
CVCM(%)
2.56
2.06
0.02
i.13
1.01
5.11
2.76
2.95
5.47
6.29
5.47
5.95
0.52
11.62
1.10
B.14
9.49
0.26
0.05
0.08
0.14
0.11
0.63
0.90
0.63
0.07
0.05
6.86
0.24
0.09
O .06
0.03
0.06
0.03
0.58
0.63
1.49
I .23
1.49
3.03
0,05
0.01
0.00
4.52
6.23
A-]
APPENDIX A
MANUFACTURERS OF MATERIALS TESTED
COMPANY NAMES AND ADDRESSES
.]rL
COMPANY
CROSSFIELD PRODUCTS CORP.
140 VALLEY ROAD
ROSELLE PARK, N.J. 07204
(201) 245-28U0
DATWYLER LTD, ALTDORF, SWITZERLAND
DISTRIBUTOR: TSK TEK STIL CONCEPTS, INC.
P.O. BOX 67
HADDONFIELD, N.J. 08033
(609) 428-4464
FLEXCO
P.O. BOX 553
TUSCUMBIA, AL
(800) 633-3151
35674
NORA FLOORING
7 BALLARD WAY
LAWRENCE, MA
(617) 689_0530
01843
SELBY, 8ATTERSBY & COMPANY
5200 WHITLEY AVE.
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19143
(215) 474-4790
PRODUCT
DEXOTEX
UNIFLOOR
FLEXCO
NORAPLAN, NORAMENT
NOVALITE
A-Z
r .
COMPANY
STONEHAND
PARK AVE
P.O. BOX 308
MAPLE SHADE, N.J.
(800) 257-7953
08052
VINYL PLASTICS, INC.
3123 SOUTH 9TH STREET
SHEBOYGAN, WI
(414) 458-4664
WEATHERGUARD-MARBLELOID PRODUCTS, INC.
2515 NEWBOLD AVE.
BRONX, N.Y. 10462
(212) 828-8300
PRODUCT
STONCLAD, STONLUX
CONDUCTILE
SPARKPROOF, RED TOPCOAT
N/LRA
S+_ce l_+_Jr.Sl+_+tton
Report Documentation Page
1. Report No.
TM 103501
2. Government Accession No.
4, Title and Subtitle
Physical and Chemical Test Results of Electrostatic
Safe Flooring Materials
7. Author(s)
R. H. Gompf
9. Performing Organization Name and Addre_
Materials Testing Branch, DM-MSL-2
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
3. Recipient's Catalog No.
5. Report Date
April 15, 1988
6. Performing Organization Code
DM-MSL-2
8. Performing Organization Report No.
MTB-316-87
10. Work Unit No.
11. Contract or Grant No.
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstract
This test program was initiated because a need existed at the Kennedy Space Center
(KSC) to have this information readily available to the engineer who must make the
choice of which electrostatic safe floor to use in a specific application. The
information contained in this study, however, should be of value throughout both
the government and private industry in the selection of a floor covering material.
Included in this report are the test results of 18 floor covering materials which
by test evaluation at KSC are considered electrostatlcally safe. Tests were done
and/or the data compliled In the following areas:
(!) Electrostatics
(2) _iammability
(3) .Hypergollc compatibility
{4) Outgassing
(5) Floor type
(6) _Haterial thickness
(7) Available colors.
Each section contains the test method used to gather the data and the test results.
A "quick-look" summary of the test results is shown on page IV.-
17. Key Words(SuggestedbyAuthor(s))
Electrostatic, Triboelectric, Floor
Covering, Flammability, Hypergolic
Comparability, Offgassln
18. Distribution Statement
Unlimited
19. Securi_ Cla_if. (of this report)
Unclassified
NASA FORM 1628 OCT 86
20. Security Cla_if. (of this page)
Unclassified
21. No. of pages
19
22. Price



Physical and chemical test results of electrostatic safe flooring materials

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