Development of a test method against hot alkaline chemical splashes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• High-temperature alkaline chemical splashes pose significant injury risks in Finnish pulp manufacturing.
• Current safety standards and testing methods for protection against such hazards are insufficient.
• A need exists for reliable methods to identify and develop protective materials for these specific risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and describe a novel test method for evaluating material protection against hot liquid chemical splashes.
• To identify suitable materials for personal protective equipment (PPE) in high-temperature alkaline chemical environments.

Main Methods:

• Initial testing involved spilling chemicals through a stainless steel funnel, with protection assessed using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film.
• Improvements included using a graphite crucible for heating and spilling, and a fast-response, multi-area K-type thermometer for under-material temperature measurement.
• Challenges in maintaining a constant chemical spill volume led to data variability.

Main Results:

• A refined test method was developed, incorporating a graphite crucible and a specialized thermometer for accurate temperature monitoring.
• The process highlighted the difficulty in achieving consistent chemical spill volumes, impacting data reproducibility.
• The developed method provides a basis for material testing for hot liquid chemical protection.

Conclusions:

• The developed test method offers a pathway for assessing protective materials against hot alkaline chemical splashes.
• Further refinement is needed to address the variability in chemical spill amounts for more consistent results.
• This research contributes to improving safety standards in industries handling hazardous hot liquids.