ing. Method 5870 specifies measurement of changes in the stiffness of 

 the material from that exhibited at room temperature and specifies that 

 results be expressed as a percentage. Method 5872 defines blocking and 

 specifies that test results be expressed in terms of no blocking, slight 

 blocking, and blocking. 



Low Temperature Resistance. The material must not stiffen, become 

 brittle, or crack when subjected to cold temperatures. This is important 

 for booms that are kept in storage and used in colder climates. Also, 

 the boom may be subjected to cold temperatures during transport to the 

 user activity. Cracks in the coating of the material can reduce its 

 resistance to the environment and petroleum products, increase its 

 porosity, and lower its breaking strength, thus lowering its effective- 

 ness and shortening its useful life. FTMS No. 191 Method 5874 is cited 

 in MIL-B-28617B (YD) for testing the low temperature resistance of boom 

 material. This test determines the degradation of the material as a 

 result of exposure to temperatures of -20 F by measuring the percent 

 change in hydrostatic resistance of the material. A change of 5% or 

 less is acceptable. 



Weather and Water Resistance. There must be no appreciable change 

 in the structural, physical, or chemical resistance properties of the 

 material after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, ozone, or fresh 

 or salt water. This property applies to both flotation and fence 

 material if it would normally be exposed to the environment. An accelera- 

 ted weathering test is called out in MIL-B-29617B (YD) using FTMS 191 

 Method 5804. This method exposes the material to carbon arc light and a 

 water spray for a specified period of time. The test as written does 

 not evaluate the effects of immersion in seawater or ozone on the material. 



Resistance to Petroleum Products. To be acceptable the material 

 must not be degraded physically or mechanically because of contact with 

 oil* products. This requirement also applies to the flotation medium if 

 it will normally come in contact with spilled oil under operational 

 conditions. 



No standard tests exist for measuring the resistance of materials 

 to various petroleum products. However, standard methods could be 

 developed around ASTM Method D543, Resistance of Plastics to Chemical 

 Reagents. This method calls for the immersion of a material sample in 

 the reagent solution of a specified concentration, at a given temperature, 

 for a specific period of time, and under controlled atmospheric conditions. 

 While the specific test conditions can be changed to accommodate the 

 various petroleum products, the same conditions must be used for a given 

 petroleum product to permit comparison of the relative resistance of 

 materials being considered. Following immersion, the materials can be 

 tested for changes in physical or mechanical properties by comparing 

 test results with those obtained with untreated samples of the material. 



Crude through refined and treated oil. 



