ASTM G86-17 Determining Ignition Sensitivity of Materials to Mechanical Impact in Ambient Liquid Oxygen and Pressurized Liquid and Gaseous Oxygen Environments: A Modern Day Evaluation of Input Energy and Calibration Variations between Ambient and Pressuri
SourceMechanical impact testing has been a long-standing cornerstone test for oxygen compatibility. ASTM G86-17, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Sensitivity of Materials to Mechanical Impact in Ambient Liquid Oxygen and Pressurized Liquid and Gaseous Oxygen Environments, describes both ambient and pressurized test methods. Nonetheless, the current G86-17 standard does not clearly identify or distinguish between the two methods. Recent testing at NASA White Sands Test Facility identified variability between the two methods. This paper examines calibration methods and materials used to evaluate variable input energies between the ambient and pressurized testers, compares these to historical findings, and discusses the implications of these findings for ASTM G86-17 and ASTM D2512-17, Standard Test Method for Compatibility of Materials with Liquid Oxygen (Impact Sensitivity Threshold and Pass-Fail Techniques, test method improvements.