Suitability of CF3I to Replace Halon 1301 as the Inerting Agent in Wing Fuel Tanks on the F-16 Aircraft.
Suitability of CF3I to Replace Halon 1301 as the
Inerting Agent in Wing Fuel Tanks on the F-16 Aircraft.
(431 K)
Gann, R. G.
NIST SP 984-1; NIST Special Publication 984-1;
Halon Options Technical Working Conference, 13th
Proceedings. HOTWC 2003. Sponsored by: 3M Specialty
Materials, Chemical Development Studies, Inc., DuPont
Flororproducts, Great Lakes Chemical Corp., Halon
Alternative Research Corp., Hughes Associates, Inc.,
Kidde-Fenwal, Inc., Modular Protection Corp., Next
Generation Fire Suppression Technology Program, Sandia
National Labs. May 13-15, 2003, Albuquerque, NM, 1-13
pp, 2003.
Keywords:
halon alternatives; halons; fire protection; inerting;
F-16 aircraft; aircraft fuel tanks; fire suppression
Abstract:
At the request of the Under Secretary of Defense
(Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), the Director of
Defense Research and Engineering convened an Independent
Review Panel (IRP) to assess the four critical technical
issues and comment on how they might affect
implementation of CF3I as a viable substitute for halon
1301 in the F-16 inerting application. The four
technical areas identified as critical to the assessment
were: materials compatibility, low temperature
performance, human toxicology, and atmospheric
chemistry. The questions to be answered were: was the
research conducted scientifically, is there sufficient
information on CF3I to decide whether it is an
acceptable alternative to halon 1301 for wing tank
inertion on the F-16, and if not, what additional
Science and Technology research is required? The
conclusions of the IRP were as follows: CF3I is more
chemically reactive than halon 1301. After further
qualification testing, it may be possible to specify
materials that could be used in service with CF3I. CF3I
is inadequate as a replacement for halon 1301 in the
existing F-16 system due to its higher boiling point and
resultant reduced delivery pressure at low temperatures.
CF3I is more toxic than halon 1301. It would be unwise
to replace a chemical with a more toxic one. More
rigorous toxicity testing of CF3I would provide a more
quantitative estimate of its toxicity in realistic
exposure scenarios. Ozone depletion from F-16
application of CF3I could be as small as one eighth that
of halon 1301 (at lower altitudes) or as large as one
and two-thirds times as damaging as halon 1301 (at
higher altitudes). In any case, CF3I use onboard an F-16
would be a Class I substance if significant amounts are
released above 20,000 ft, and the U.S. Clean Air Act
bans use of Class I substances.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899