Development of Standard Test Methods and Evaluation of Shelf Life and Weatherability of Fixative Coatings for Control of Radiological Contamination
Citation:
U.S. EPA. Development of Standard Test Methods and Evaluation of Shelf Life and Weatherability of Fixative Coatings for Control of Radiological Contamination. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-13/233, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
Through its involvement with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) the HSRP led the effort which developed ASTM E-2731-09 Standard Specification for Materials to Mitigate the Spread of Radioactive Contamination after a Radiological Dispersion Event. ASTM E-2731-09 articulates eighteen different material performance requirements (e.g., tear strength, abrasion resistance, weatherability, shelf life, etc.) for coatings which could be used to sequester contamination (particles) and fix them in place, thereby limiting the spread of contamination (and associated health/exposure impacts) and making future decontamination and recovery efforts more effective. Test methods for verifying the performance of any particular coating against the requirements in ASTM E-2731-09 exist for some parameters such as tensile strength or abrasion resistance. However, test methods for some of these requirements do not currently exist, including methods for assessment of weatherability and shelf life. NHSRC) has produced a set of test methods to verify performance of coatings intended to meet the ASTM E-2731-09 performance standards for shelf life and weatherability. These test methods were drafted, validated by laboratory exercise using a commercially available coating product, and then used to evaluate the shelf life and weatherability performance of three additional currently commercially available coatings selected as potential candidates for use as sequestration coatings to immobilize radioactive contamination.
Description:
Report