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Jerrycans made from three different types of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were exposed outdoors, for one Berlin summer season. They were filled with a 55 percent nitric acid solution (HN03), pure water, or air, and half of them were protected from sunlight by an UV absorbing canvas. Thus, the separate effects of UV radiation and nitric acid could be compared to the combined impact. Combined impact was mainly affected by decomposition of nitric acid, resulting in presence of reactive nitrogen oxides, increased oxygen partial pressure, and UV radiation energy, simultaneously in vapour phase.
To investigate the degradation effects after the outdoor exposure, jerrycans were exposed to a so called hydraulic internal pressure test, similar to an approval test for dangerous goods packaging. After combined impact of UV radiation and nitric acid, internal pressure tests showed very fast failures, whereas after separate impacts no remarkable deteriorations were observed, compared to unaged jerrycans.
Unpigmented HDPE jerrycans filled with nitric acid (55%) and water respectively had been exposed to outdoor conditions for one Berlin summer season. As both liquids underwent equal temperature progression, exposure effects of UV radiation and nitric acid as well as of their combination can be separated and compared. On the basis of various property changes after these exposures, synergistic action is evaluated and compared to a damaged Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) from a transport accident.
It is found that carbonyl formation goes along with lightness increase in color measurement due to microcracking and with a worsening in mechanical behavior, all of them showing synergistic effects of UV and nitric acid exposure. In contrast, embedding nitrogen compounds goes along with yellowing of the material but cannot be correlated to oxidation.
The reason for intensified damaging is the decomposition of the 55-percent nitric acid and formation of nitrogen oxides even at ambient temperatures, caused by UV radiation. Thus, damaging effects become similar to those caused by fuming nitric acid exposure at temperatures above 60 °C, with the result of strong oxidative degradation of the polyethylene.
In contrast, exclusive exposure to the 55-percent nitric acid at 40 °C does not cause any failure.
It can therefore be assumed that also the damaged IBC had been exposed to both UV radiation and nitric acid, probably outdoors.