Development of test methods to determine the compatibility of liquid hazardous materials with polyethylene packagings

Abstract

This report describes work done for the Department of Transportation, Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation to develop test methods which can be used to determine whether a liquid hazardous material may be shipped in a specific type of polyethylene packaging.Current federal regulations require that each prospective lading be tested individually in proposed polyethylene packagings and do not make provision for liquids which may be unstable at 21°C .One area being explored is the possibility of dividing the liquids into groups and authorizing the transportation of all the liquids in the group based on tests done using one standard liquid from that group.The feasibility of basing compatibility tests on the use of standard liquids is assessed and recommendations are made as to the conditions under which such a scheme can be used. An empirical scheme known as the "Permachor" method for ranking the permeability of liquid hazardous materials is proposed.