BICARBONATE OF SODA BLASTING TECHNOLOGY
             FOR AIRCRAFT WHEEL DEPAINTING
                           by

Abraham S. C. Chen, Lawrence A. Smith, and Robert F. Olfenbuttel
                         Battelle
                  Columbus, Ohio 43201
                 Contract No. 68-CO-0003
                 Work Assignment No. 2-36
                  Technical Project Monitor

                        Ivars Licis
                 Pollution Prevention Branch
            Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
                   Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
        RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY
          OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
        U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45268
                                                 ) Printed on Recycled Paper

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                                          NOTICE

            Study of the  material  in this report has been funded wholly or in part by  the  U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), under Contract No. 68-CO-0003 to Battelle.   This
report  has been  subjected to the Agency's peer and  administrative review  and approved for
publication as a U.S. EPA document.  Approval  does not signify that the contents necessarily
reflect  the views and policies  of the U.S. EPA or Battelle; nor does mention of trade  names or
commercial  products  constitute  endorsement  or  recommendation for use.   This  document is
intended  as advisory guidance only to the coating removal industry in developing approaches to
waste reduction.  Compliance with environmental  and occupational safety and  health laws is the
responsibility of each individual business and is not the focus of this document.

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                                          FOREWORD

             Today's  rapidly developing and changing technologies and industrial  products and
 practices frequently carry with them the increased generation of materials that, if improperly dealt with,
 can threaten both  public health and  the  environment.  The  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
 charged by Congress with protecting the  Nation's land, air and water resources.  Under a  mandate of
 national environmental  laws,  the  Agency strives to  formulate  and implement  actions leading  to a
 compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural  systems to support and nurture
 life.   These laws direct EPA to  perform research to define our environmental problems, measure the
 impacts, and search for solutions.
             The Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory is responsible  for planning, implementing, and
 managing research, development and demonstration programs to provide  and authoritative, defensible
 engineering basis in support  of the policies,  programs,  and  regulations of the EPA with  respect to
 drinking water,  wastewater,  pesticides, toxic substances,  solid and hazardous wastes, and  Superfund-
 related  activities.   This publication  is one  of the products  of that  research  and provides a  vital
 communication link between the researcher and the user community.
             Passage of the Pollution Prevention Act  of 1990 marked a strong change in the  U.S.
 policies  concerning the generation of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes.  This bill implements the
 national objective of pollution prevention by establishing a source reduction program at the EPA and by
 assisting States in providing information and technical assistance regarding source  reduction.  In support
 of the  emphasis on  pollution prevention, the "Waste Reduction  Innovative  Technology  Evaluation
 (WRITE) Program"  has  been designed  to  identify, evaluate,  and/or  demonstrate new  ideas  and
technologies that lead to waste reduction.  These methods reduce or eliminate transportation, handling,
treatment, and disposal  of hazardous materials in the environment.  The technology evaluation project
discussed in this report emphasizes the study and development of methods to reduce waste and prevent
pollution.

                                   E. Timothy Oppelt, Director
                             Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory

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                                          ABSTRACT

            This evaluation  addressed  product quality,  waste  reduction/pollution  prevention  and
economics in replacing chemical solvent strippers with a bicarbonate of soda blasting technology for
removal of paint from aircraft wheels. The evaluation was  conducted in the Paint Stripping  Shop at
Ellington Field, National  Aeronautics'  and  Space Administration/Lyndon  B.  Johnson Space Center
(NASA/JSC), in Houston, Texas. The  evaluation used limited new test data,  information from  previous
tests by NASA/JSC as part of their program to adopt this process as a nondestructive inspection of
aircraft  wheels, cost estimates for the chemical stripping  and bicarbonate blasting based on facility
records. Because the paint being removed contained hazardous metal constituents, the liquid and solid
wastes  as well as the cloud of spray  generated were evaluated for metal  concentrations present and
their teachability.  Analyses for Cd, Cr,  Cu, Pb, Mn,  Ni, and Zn were made as  well as total metals
concentrations, Ph, total suspended solids, and oil and grease. The blasting technology is  effective for
removing paint from aircraft wheels without significant damage to the anodized surface under the paint.
Engineering improvements that avoid the need  of respirators, reduce noise levels and minimize water
use could enhance the application.  Applications that do not contain hazardous materials in the coating
being removed  could  be  significantly  more  lucrative.   In  comparison  to solvent  depainting  this
technology reduced the amount of hazardous waste  generated as well as cost savings due to operating
and disposal costs, resulting in a 15% return on investment in about 4 years.

            This report  was  submitted  in  partial  fulfillment of  Contract  Number 68-CO-0003, Work
Assignment 2-36, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   This  report
covers a period from June 1991 to May 1992, and the study was completed as of May 31, 1992.
                                               iv

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                                                     i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE	H

FOREWORD  	. . .	 HI

ABSTRACT		 iv

LIST OF TABLES	 .,			v!I

LIST OF FIGURES	. .  .	.	..		... vm

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS		 (X

SECTION 1                                                                           i
PROJEECT DESCRIPTION		 .			1    ,

       1.1 PROJECT OBJECTIVES  ..		              1    ,
       1.2 PAINT STRIPPING TECHNOLOGIES	.2
             1.2.1 Technologies to Be Replaced: Chemical Strippers	2
             1.2.2 Alternative Paint Stripping Technologies	   3
             1.2.3 Description of ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP™ Process	             4    ;
       1.3 TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION SITE	 7    i
             1.3.1 Past Stripping Process  	  9
             1.3.2 Current ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP™ Stripping Process  		              9
       1.4 EVALUATION APPROACH  		12
             1.4.1 Product Quality Assessment	12    j
             1.4.2 Waste  Reduction/Pollution Prevention Potential
                   Assessment	 14
             1.4.3 Economic Assessment	 15

SECTION 2
PRODUCT QUALITY EVALUATION	 16

       2.1     EXPERIMENTAL METHODS	17
             2.1.1 Stripping of Aircraft Wheels	 17
             2.1.2 Anodized Surface Damage Inspection		...             17    i
       2.2     RESULTS AND DISCUSSION	             18    '
       2.3     PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT	'.'..'.'.'.'.'.'. 24

SECTIONS
WASTE REDUCTION/POLLUTION PREVENTION POTENTIAL EVALUATION	 25

       3.1     SOLID AND  LIQUID WASTE REDUCTION POTENTIAL  		25
             3.1.1 Experimental Methods	26
             3.1.2 Results and Discussion	            28
       3.2     AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION PREVENTION POTENTIAL  	'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 32    i
             3.2.1 Experimental Methods	,	 32    •'
             3.2.2  Results and Discussion	  ..........             34
       3.3     WASTE REDUCTION/POLLUTION PREVENTION ASSESSMENT ... I ......... 38

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                         TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
SECTION 4
ECONOMIC EVALUATION ..... . ................. .......                         41

     4.1  CAPITAL INVESTMENT ........                                          41
     4.2  OPERATING COSTS ........ ____          " ' ................ ............ 42
     4.3  RESULTS OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS .....    ............................... '  4fi
     4.4  ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT . . . . ............ . ..... ...... '.'.'.'.'/.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.  46
SECTIONS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
    5.1  QUALITY ASSURANCE OBJECTIVES . . .............................          50
          5.1.1 Precision ........ ............................... .............  51
          5.1 .2 Accuracy ........ ............. . ..............     ............  54
          5.1.3 Completeness ...... .....                               .......  54
    5.2  LIMITATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS . . •. ...... '•'.'•'.'.'.'.','.'.'.'.'.'.''..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.  54
SECTION 6
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A
METHOD OF ASSESSING ANODIZED SURFACE DAMAGE ....................           61

APPENDIX B
EFFECTS OF ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™ ON FATIGUE CRACKS
IN ALCLAD TEST PANELS  .....                                                 „,.
                             ........................ • ..................... bo
APPENDIX C
ICP CALIBRATION VERIFICATION AND ICP INTERFERENCE CHECK .................. ... 69
                                     VI

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                                     LIST OF TABLES


 Table 1-1.   Dimensions and Capacities of the ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™	7

 Table 1-2.   Aircraft Maintained at the NASA/JSC Ellington Field ...,	7

 Table 1-3.   List of Measurements Performed	               13

 Table 2-1.   Summary of Anodized Surface Damage Inspection .	                19

 Table 3-1.   Sampling Procedures  	;	                            27

 Table 3-2.   Quantitative Quality Assurance Objectives  		         29

 Table 3-3.   Oil and Grease, TSS, pH, and Metal Contaminants in
             Wastewater Collected from the Vat	                       31

 Table 3-4.   Total and Leachable Metals in Solid Waste Collected from the Vat	     33

 Table 3-5.   pH, TSS, and Metal Contaminants in Wastewater Collected
             from Rotoclone Separator	                 33

 Table 3-6.   Airborne Metals Collected During Bicarbonate Paint Removal	          36

 Table 3-7.   Projected 8-Hour Noise Exposures and Required Noise Attenuation	38

 Table 3-8.   Summary of Pollution Prevention Potential for Bicarbonate Paint Removal	39

 Table 4-1.   Inputs and Outputs for Capital Costs	         42

 Table 4-2.   Man-Hours Required and Solid and Liquid Waste Generated Annually	44

 Table 4-3.   Stripping Time	                      45

 Table 4-4.  Annual Operating Cost of Bicarbonate Blasting Compared
            to Solvent Stripping	              47

 Table 4-5.  Annual Operating Savings from Bicarbonate Blasting Compared
            to Solvent Stripping	           48

 Table 4-6.  Return on Investment for Change from Solvent Stripping
            to Bicarbonate Blasting	              49

 Table 5-1.  Precision of TSS and Metals Measurements	                52

 Table 5-2.  Precision and Accuracy of Oil and Grease  Measurements	              53

Table 5-3.  Precision of pH Measurements	                    53

Table 5-4.  Accuracy of Metals Measurements	                 55

Table 5-5.  Accuracy of Airborne Metals Measurements	           53
                                             Vii

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                                  LIST OF TABLES (continued)


 Table C-1.   ICP Calibration Verification  .	                          7Q

 Table C-2.   ICP Interference Check	
                                      LIST OF FIGURES

 Figure 1-1. Typical ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™  Flow Diagram ,..
                                                                                          71
                                                         	5

 Figure 1-2.  ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™ with Wet Blast Head
                                                    	o
 Figure 1-3.  Flow Diagram of Aircraft Wheels Maintenance Program
            at the NASA/JSC Ellington Field 	
                                                    	:	•	8
 Figure 1-4.  Layout of Paint-Stripping Shop (Building 137)	                    10

 Figure 1-5.  Paint-Stripping Shop Modified for ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP™ Process .	            n

 Figure 2-1.  Photographs of Aircraft Wheel (SN  6264 Outboard) Taken
            after the First (Top) and Second  (Bottom) Blasting	             21

 Figure 2-2.  Photographs of Aircraft Wheel (SN  6264 Inboard) Taken
            after the First (Top) and Second  (Bottom) Blasting	22

 Figure 2-3.  Photographs of Aircraft Wheel (SN  7755  Outboard) Taken
            after the First (Top) and Second  (Bottom) Blasting	        23

 Figure A-1.  Anodized Surface Damage Data Sheet	  	....:.....                 64

 Figure B-1.  Alclad panel (#7 of 8) Prior to Painting  	            67

 Figure B-2.  Painted Alclad Panel (#7 of 8)	                   67

Figure B-3.  Alclad Panel (#7 of 8) after Blasting with ARMEX® Blast Media at 80 psi	68
                                           viii

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                                     ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

            The U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency  and  Battelle  acknowledge the  important
contribution made  by representatives  of the Washington  Department  of  Ecology,  Office  of Waste !
Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control (Robert Burmark), in assisting in identifying and locating a site j
for this technology evaluation.  K. B. Gilpreath. Director, NASA/JSC Center Operations, is acknowledged :
for providing the site and support for the on-site evaluation.  In particular, J.  P. Herrmann and J. Kines, :
NASA/JSC Environmental Services Office, are acknowledged for coordinating the on-site activities and
sharing  data and  overall  assessment  of the  technology.    G.  Caylor and  S   Hulka,  NASA/JSC
Environmental Health  Services, are acknowledged for providing analytical  supports for airborne metals I
and noise exposure studies.  M. Doty of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. provided useful information about the '
stripping media and system.                                                                       ;
                                             IX

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                                           SECTION 1
                                    PROJECT DESCRIPTION

            The objective of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's  (U.S. EPA) Waste Reduction
 Innovative Technology Evaluation (WRITE) Program is to evaluate, in a typical workplace environment,
 examples of prototype technologies with potential for reducing wastes at  the source or for preventing
 pollution. In general; when evaluating each technology, three issues are addressed.
            First, is the  new  technology  effective?   Waste  reduction  and  pollution   prevention
 technologies involve  using either substitute materials or techniques, or recycling or reusing materials.  It
 is important to verify that the quality of the materials and the quality of the work product are  satisfactory
 for the intended  purpose.  Second, does using the technology measurably reduce waste and/or prevent
 pollution?   Last, the economics  of the new technology must be quantified and  compared with the
 economics,  of the existing technology and/or the  technology to be replaced.   It should be noted,
 however, that  improved economics is not the only criterion for using the prototype technology. There
 may be  harder  to quantify justifications such as reduced  liability, greater safety,  better morale, and
 improved company public relations that would encourage adoption of new operating  approaches.
            This evaluation  involves a commercially  available  technology, offered  by  a  specific
 manufacturer,  for coating removal.   The technology evaluated  is marketed by CDS  Group, a  joint
 marketing venture of Church  & Dwight Co.,  Inc. (Princeton,  New Jersey)  and Schmidt Manufacturing,
 Inc. (Fresno, Texas).  Other bicarbonate of soda blasting technologies for similar applications  may be
commercially available from other manufacturers.

 1.1 PROJECT OBJECTIVES

            The goal of this study is to evaluate a bicarbonate of soda departing technology that uses
sodium  bicarbonate-based blasting media, ARMEX®, to  replace chemical solvents  for stripping paints
from aircraft wheels.  This study has three specific objectives:

     1.      To evaluate the effectiveness of the ARMEXe/ACCUSTRIP™ process in stripping paints from
            aircraft wheels prior to a nondestructive inspection (NDI) for cracks and structural  defects
            (see Section 1.4.1  and Section 2),
     2.      To  evaluate the  waste reduction/pollution prevention potential  of this  technology (see
            Section 1.4.2 and Section 3), and
     3.      To evaluate the cost of this technology versus that of the existing method using chemical
            solvents (see Section 1.4.3 and Section 4).

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 Because .of limited  resources available for the  project,  only  a small number of experiments were
 performed during the on-site testing.  The evaluation was designed  based on the user's  (NASA/JSC)
 requirements in terms of product quality and waste reduction/pollution control. This study evaluated the
 performance of the  existing stripping  equipment and pollution control devices and the wastestreams
 generated  from the  use  of the equipment and devices.  The stripping  process evaluated also may be
 applicable  to departing, degreasing,  and/or cleaning  other thick-skin aircraft  parts. .However,  the
 wastes generated from these processes must be examined  on a case-by-case basis.

 1.2 PAINT STRIPPING TECHNOLOGIES

 1-2.1  Technologies to Be Replaced: Chemical Strippers

             The  most common approach for paint removal  is  application of organic  solvents,  mainly
 methylene  chloride and phenol. The increasing concerns over the adverse effects of organic solvents on
 the environment and human  health have resulted in more stringent  regulations  governing the  use of
 these  chemicals as paint strippers for aircraft departing.  These include bans on certain chemicals at
 some locations and restrictions on volatile organic  compound (VOC) emissions and waste disposal.
            Among  the  solvents, chlorinated and aromatic solvents  have received the most  attention
 because they have been  widely used as paint strippers in the  aerospace and  aviation industry and they
 have been  linked  to numerous acute and chronic  diseases, including  cancers. Methylene chloride and
 phenols are the most common major constituents of solvent paint removers.  For example, methylene
 chloride and several other solvents have been identified as some of the 17 priority chemicals in the 1988
 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) under Title 313 Superfund  Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA).
 By 1992, the U.S. EPA  wishes to reduce the  release of these  chemicals  by one-third, and  by 1995,
 reduce it by 50% (U.S. EPA, 1991).
            Stringent environmental regulations  have made  the treatment  and disposal  of  solvent-
 containing wastes difficult and expensive.  Costs will continue to rise in the future, making it desirable to
 search for more environmentally and/or economically acceptable technologies  for paint stripping.

 1-2.2  Alternative Paint Stripping Technologies

            Several new and "clean" paint stripping technologies are commercially available. These are
bicarbonate of soda  blasting,  plastic  media blasting (PMB), liquid nitrogen cryogenic blasting, carbon
dioxide pellet cryogenic blasting, and nonhazardous chemical stripping.  The first four technologies use

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physical  methods, such  as abrasion, impact, and  extreme cold,  to  remove old coatings.   The last
technology uses "environmentally acceptable" solvents as substitutes.
Nonhazardous chemical  strippers contain no  chlorinated  solvents,  phenols, creosois, or other highly
toxic organic compounds (Ignasiak, 1991).  They remove most of the common  aircraft and aerospace
coatings, including epoxies, polyurethanes, and  epoxy primers.  These strippers, however, cost more
than the traditional strippers and take more time  to work. Some of these strippers corrode magnesium
and can cause hydrogen  embrittlement of high-strength steels (Ignasiak, 1991). Therefore, workers must
mask assemblies containing these alloys before stripping them.
            Plastic media blasting (PMB) involves propelling palletized plastic particles via compressed
air.  The particles impact the painted  surface, fracturing the coatings and separating them from the
substrate beneath. When used under a set of precisely controlled parameters, the plastic media impart
negligible damage to the substrates and achieve fast paint removal rates (Haas, 1991).  However, the
media can  impart significant damage to aluminum, composites, and fiberglass (Groshart, 1988).  Other
drawbacks  of the technology include initial  capital costs, the cleanliness requirement of the media, the
amount of solid waste generated, and worker exposure to dust and noise.
            The two cryogenic blasting technologies take advantage of extreme cold  to embrittle and
shrink old coatings.  Nonabrasive plastic pellets or carbon dioxide pellets are then blasted to  make the
paint break away from the substrate.  The technologies  neither release toxic fumes to the atmosphere
nor produce large quantities of solid wastes.  Industrial  applications  of these technologies,  however,
have been limited because of their high capital costs.
            Bicarbonate  of soda blasting,  the subject of this  study,  uses compressed  air to deliver
sodium bicarbonate media from a pressure pot to a nozzle where the media mix with a  stream of water.
The media/water mixture  impacts the coated surface and removes old coatings from the substrate.  The
water used dissipates the heat generated by the  abrasive process,  aids the paint removal by hydraulic
action, and reduces the amount of dust in the air (Lee and  Kirschner,  1989).  As another convenience,
the workers do not need  to prewash or mask the surface.  The dust, unlike that of plastic media, is not
an explosive hazard, nor  is sodium bicarbonate toxic in this form.  The airborne particulates generated
from the stripping operation, however, can contain toxic elements from  the paint being removed (Atkins,
1989),  One manufacturer claims that liquid waste may be disposed of to Publically Owned Treatment
Works (POTW) or other conventional wastewater treatment plants, and that the solid waste is suitable for
a sanitary landfill (Church  & Dwight Co., Inc.) but these claims remain to be verified.
            The effectiveness of bicarbonate of soda blasting  depends on  optimizing  a number of
operating parameters including nozzle pressure,  standoff distance, angle of  impingement,  media flow
rate, water pressure, and traverse speed.

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             The present study evaluated the bicarbonate of soda blasting technology marketed by the
 CDS Group (Arcola, Texas). The evaluation was conducted in the Paint Stripping Shop (Building 137) at
 Ellington  Field,  National Aeronautics  and Space  Administration/Lyndon  B.  Johnson  Space  Center
 (NASA/JSC) in Houston, Texas.

 1.2.3  Description of ARMEX'/ACCUSTRIP™ Process

                   35
             ARMEX  is a sodium bicarbonate-based blast media formulation manufactured by Church &
 Dwight Co.,  Inc.  It is  a white, crystalline material with a bulk density of 0.9771  g/mL (61  Ib/fl3), a
 specific gravity of 2.22  g/mL  (139  Ib/ft3), and  a hardness  of 2.5 to 3.0 on the Mohs' scale  (Lee and
•Kirschner, 1989). It decomposes at elevated temperatures to give various mixed bicarbonate/carbonate
 species, depending on time, temperature, and humidity.  In aqueous solutions,  it reacts with both acids
 and bases and maintains the pH at 8.3 over a wide range of concentrations (Stumm and Morgan,  1989).
             At the time of on-site testing, three different formulas were available for the  specific needs
 of industries.  These include a composite formula (for delicate substrates such as plastics, graphites,
fiberglass, etc.) at a particle size of 75 yum, a  maintenance formula  (for maintenance and cleaning of
 process equipment and parts)  at 175 Mm, and an aviation formula (for aircraft skin and airframe) at 275
fj,m. The  ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™, engineered and manufactured by Schmidt Manufacturing, Inc., blasts
the sodium bicarbonate media.  A typical flow diagram is illustrated in Figure 1-1.  A typical ACCUSTRIP
SYSTEM™ and a wet blast head are presented in Figure 1-2.  Four standard models are  available; their
dimensions and capacities are listed in Table 1-1.
             During operation, the system delivers a mixture of  blast media and water at a pressure of
about  207 to 414 kPA (30 to 60 psi) through a blast  nozzle.  The hand-held,  hand-actuated nozzle is
maintained at a standoff distance (distance from the  nozzle to the surface to be  stripped)  of 0.31 to 0.61
M (12  to 24  in)  and an impingement angle of  30 to 80 degrees.  The media  flow rate  is 0.45 to 1.8
kg/min (1 to 4 Ib/min)  and  the water flow rate is 1.9 L/min  (0.5  gal/min).  The  production rate is about
0.14 to 0.23 nf/min (1.5 to 2.5 ft2/min) (data based on urethane-type coatings up to 4 mils).

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Source: Schmidt Manufacturing, Inc.
              Figure 1-1.  Typical ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM" flow diagram.

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                                • WATER LINE
                                BLAST HOSE    BLAST NOZZLE
Figure 1-2.  ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™ with wet blast head.




                      6

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             TABLE 1-1. DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES OF ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™
Model
16W
16
13
220
Length
cm in
170 66
91 36
112 44
142 56
Width
cm in
137 54
81 32
86 34
97 38
Height
cm in
185 64
142 56
137 54
203 80
Approximate
Weight
kg Ib
549 1210
367 810
322 710
871 1920
Media Tank
m3 ft3
0.17 6
0.17 6
0.09 3
0.57 20
Water Tank
L gal
151 40
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
N/A N/A
No.
of
Operators
1
1
1
2
1.3  TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION SITE

           The NASA/JSC Aircraft Operation Division is responsible for maintenance and repair of
a fleet of 37  aircraft (see  Table 1-2) at Ellington  Field.  One of the many tasks  is to perform
nondestructive inspection (NDI)  of aircraft wheels.  The  process involves depainting and cleaning
the wheels, inspecting for cracks and structural defects, treating the surface,  priming, and painting.
The NDI preparation of the  wheels after  depainting  involves  ultrasonic alkaline cleaning,  penetrant
soaking, emulsifier soaking, water rinsing, and drying.   The prepared parts are examined under
fluorescent light in a dark room.  Figure 1-3 shows a flow diagram of these activities.

          TABLE 1-2.  AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED AT THE NASA/JSC ELLINGTON FIELD
Type of Aircraft
T-38
G-2
G-1
KC-135
WB-57
Quantity
28
5
1
1
2
Function
Flight training
Shuttle training aircraft (STA) - simulating shuttle
landing
Passenger plane
Zero-gravity experiments
High-altitude experiments, air sampling, experiments
                                         on O3 layer, etc.

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 1.3.1  Past Stripping Process

            In the past, tire/wheel assemblies were removed from the aircraft in one of the three
 large hangars and the one small hangar and taken to a tire shop.  The wheels, including outboard
 and  inboard wheel pieces, were forwarded to the paint-stripping shop (Building 137, see layout in
 Figure 1-4) for depainting. The wheels were soaked in a 1.22 m x 1.22 m x 1.22 m(4ftx4ftx4
 ft) tank containing BB 9201 phenolic-based stripper heated to between  32.2 and 37.8°C (90 and
 100°F).   (Prior to January  1991, a Turco chemical  stripper containing  55% methylene chloride,
 20% phenol, and 1 % sodium chromate was used. However, because of lack of historical data, no
 comparison  was  made to the bicarbonate  system during this  evaluation study.)  After a certain
 period of time, the wheels were removed for brushing, sanding, and rinsing on the handwork table.
 Repetitive soaking and handworking often were needed.  The solvent-containing liquid along with
 the paint chips flowed  into two 1.22 m x 1.22 m x 0.61 m (4 ft x 4 ft x 2  ft) vats covered with
 grates.  After gravity settling, the liquid flowed into a sump and then was pumped to a 18,900-L
 (5,000-gal) storage tank located just outside of the  stripping shop.   The solids in the vats were
 manually drummed for disposal.
            The spent chemical stripping fluid was hauled away for fuel blending in an incinerator.
 The  stripping sludge solids were drummed and disposed of at a  rate of 8 to 10 drums per month at
 a cO'St  of  about $200 to  $300/drum.   The wastewater  was  tanked every 3  months  (about
 15,000 L [4,000 gal]) for deepwell disposal at a cost of 5.3C/L (200/gal).

 1.3.2  Current ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP" Stripping Process

            The paint-stripping shop was remodeled to accommodate the ARMEX /ACCUSTRIP™
 process and began operation in December  1991.  As shown in Figure 1-5,  the  BB 9201 stripper
tank remained in the stripping room and served as a backup.  The ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM"
 (Model 16W), with necessary  piping for water and air supplies, strips the wheels resting on either
one of the turntables mounted atop  the grates.  Vats collect the liquid and solids underneath.  The
liquid, after gravity  settling,  is transferred to the  18,900-L  (5000-gal) storage tank, whereas
workers continue  the past practice of drumming the solids manually.
           An exhaust ventilation  system was installed to  control/remove the particulate cloud
that  forms as the blast media strike the  surface.  The exhaust  system includes  two ventilation
hoods (three-sided exhaust enclosures measured at 1.22 m x 1.22 m x 1.22 m [4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft])
installed on top of the vats.  The average face velocity of the hood was measured to be 87  m/min
(285 ft/min).  Each hood is equipped with an exhaust duct at the top which draws air from the

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                                     11

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enclosure and  routes  it through  a rotoelone  dust collection  system external  to the building.
NASA/JSC's Environmental  Health Services also requires  the operators of  the  ACCUSTRIP
SYSTEM" to wear a  full-face air-purifying  respirator (APR) with  high-efficiency paniculate  air
(HEPA) filters until the  efficacy of the exhaust ventilation system can be evaluated (Atkins, 1989).
The operators also must wear hearing protection.

1.4  [EVALUATION APPROACH

            Several measurements  were performed during this  evaluation study.  Table 1-3 lists
the measurements performed.  The anodized surface damage was  the only parameter measured
when determining  the  paint removal process performance.  The  liquid and solid waste in the vat,
the waste water in the  cyclone separator, the airborne particulates in the stripping room, and the
noise generated during  the blasting were analyzed and monitored to determine the waste reduction
and pollution prevention potential.   The time needed to strip each wheel  was measured; the data
were  used in conjunction with other historical data for the economic  assessment.  The rationale for
selecting these  measurements is explained in the following sections.

1.4.1 Product Quality Assessment

            NASA/JSC aircraft maintenance engineers determined the effectiveness of the sodium
bicarbonate  blasting process  based on  complete paint  removal without damage to the wheel
surface that either modified metal performance or masked any cracks during inspection.  Complete
paint  removal could be achieved by repeatedly blasting the  wheel surface.  After inspecting the
blasted wheels  and other thick-skin parts, NASA/JSC ruled out the possibilities of metal damage
(Rountree, 1991).  Other studies by Lee and Kirschner {1989), McDonald (1990),  Stropki (1991),
and  Van  Sciver (1989,  1990,  1991) also suggested  negligible  metal  damage  to  thin-skin
substrates.  Based on a fatigue crack closure study (Williams, 1991) performed by the CDS Group
under the request  of NASA/JSC, NASA/JSC also concluded that the blasting  would not impede
conventional methods of fatigue crack detection.
            One additional  concern was the anodized layer below  the paint.  This thin  (around
0.00001  of  an  inch) electrochemical  oxide layer is used to improve the corrosion resistance of the
metal.  Because of the relative vulnerability of this layer between  the paint and the metal and
because, for practical purposes, the wheels could  not be reanodized  in the tire shop, the condition
of this layer  after repeated blasting was used to determine the effect of the blasting process.
                                            12

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                     TABLE 1-3. LIST OF MEASUREMENTS PERFORMED
         Objective
         Matrix Type
                                                                      Parameter
Product quality
Aircraft wheel
Anodized surface damage
Waste reduction/
pollution prevention
potential
Liquid waste in vats
Total suspended solids (TSS)
Oil & grease
PH
Cd (total)
Cr (total)
Cu (total)
Pb (total)
Mn (total)
Ni (total)
Zn (total)
Volume produced per wheel
                            Solid waste in vats, Toxicity
                            Characteristic Leaching
                            Procedure (TCLP) test for
                            metals including:
                                Cd (total & leachable)
                                Cr (total & leachable)
                                Cu (total & leachable)
                                Pb (total & leachable)
                                Mn (total & leachable)
                                Ni (total & leachable)
                                Zn (total & leachable)
                                Volume produced per wheel
                            Wastewater collected in
                            cyclone separator
                               pH
                               TSS
                               Cd (total)
                               Cr (total)
                               Cu (total)
                               Pb (total)
                               Mn (total)
                               Ni (total)
                               Zn (total)
                            Airborne particulates in
                            stripping room
                            Noise level during ARMEX/
                            ACCUSTRIP" process
                               Cr
                               Cu
                               Pb
                               Zn

                               Noise
                                            13

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             Although NASA/JSC  did not  require an  anodized  surface  damage inspection,  this
 evaluation study  did include a test  method  to assess the condition of the anodized layer  after
 blasting.   The test method, as suggested by NASA/JSC, involved  inspection of the  same wheel
 pieces  after they  were first stripped  and after they were stripped, repainted, and restripped under
 the same operating conditions. The procedures of this method are detailed in Appendix A.

 1.4.2 Waste Reduction/Pollution Prevention Potential Assessment

             Bicarbonate of soda blasting eliminates the use of solvent strippers but still generates
 liquid and solid wastes.  Three types  of wastes were generated: liquid and solid wastes collected in
 the vats and wastewater collected in the rotoclone separator.  The liquid waste in the vats was
 sampled after the  bulk of  the  solid waste  gravity-settled.   The  wastewater  in  the rotoclone
 separator was sampled at the completion of testing.  The liquid waste had to meet local discharge
 limits for wastewater disposal (City of Houston, 1989),  so wastewater samples were quantified for
 pH, total suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease, and heavy metal concentrations  (including Cd, Cr,
 Cu, Pb, Mn,  Ni, and Zn).
             From  these analyses, it could  be  determined whether the  wastewater  could be
 disposed of to the POTW or had to be tanked  away for treatment and/or disposal.  The total waste
 volume produced  by the bicarbonate blasting technology was required to allow  comparison with
 that produced by the previously used solvent stripping method.
            The sodium bicarbonate blasting media alone  will not result in the solid waste  being a
 RCRA hazardous waste.  Pigments in the paint chips may contain  metals  included in the RCRA
 TCLP,  These metals may  be  sufficiently leachable to  cause the solid waste to exhibit a RCRA
 toxicity characteristic.   In addition to  the  RCRA metals potentially in  the paint chips, several other
 metals were included in the  analysis  due to their presence in paint and their potential  for risks to
 human health and  the environment. The total  metal concentration also was measured to more fully
 characterize the solid wastestream. The metals included in the analysis were Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb,  Mn,
 Ni, and Zn,  The volume of solid waste generated also was measured.  Knowing the waste  volume
 and the leachability characteristics could allow NASA/JSC to determine a proper means of disposal.
            The hazards that the new technology might pose to  workers were evaluated.  These
included toxic airborne particulates and unsafe noise exposures. Air quality was measured in terms
of  airborne  metal  concentrations.  Noise levels  were  measured  on a sound-level  meter and a
dosimeter using an A-filter  and a C-filter.  The reading on an A-weighted scale enables  one to
determine if unsafe noise levels are produced; if they  are, then the reading on a C-weighted scale
expedites the selection of proper hearing protection.
                                             14

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 1.4.3  Economic Assessment

            Evaluating the economic worth of the current technology was a comparative process.
All costs associated with the old stripping practices were identified, evaluated, and compared with
those  associated with  changing  to and maintaining the ARMEX*/ACCUSTRIP" technology.   In
general, cost estimation included capital, operating, and waste disposal costs.
            Costs associated with the past practice included capital equipment and Turco chemical
stripper costs, as well as the total man-hours spent stripping the aircraft wheels.  This total work
time included practicing safety  procedures, soaking and scrubbing the wheels, and handling liquid
and solid  wastes.  Changing to the current technology demanded spending for capital equipment
and  materials, miscellaneous startup costs,  and  operation and  maintenance (O&M) costs.  The
facilities  were  revamped  to accommodate the  pressurized  nozzle operation.   To address  the
concerns over the workers' exposure to potentially toxic airborne particulates from paint removal
debris, an  exhaust ventilation system composed  of  a cyclone separator, intake  piping, and two
hoods  was installed.  Much of the economic assessment used historical data.   However,  certain
costs  cannot be  determined  without  data on   the  waste  volume  characteristics  and  other
performance  characteristics of  the bicarbonate blasting system  determined by  this  study.   To
estimate  disposal costs, for example,  one must  estimate the volume of waste generated and
identify the particular disposal methods.
                                            15

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                                         SECTION 2
                              PRODUCT QUALITY EVALUATION

            The product quality was measured in terms of anodized surface damage.  Anodizing is
 a commonly used electrochemical finishing procedure that forms an oxide coating on the metallic
 surface to improve corrosion resistance of that  metal.  The anodized film on  the aircraft wheels
 often is less than one ten-thousandth of an inch thick.  A  special  test method was  developed to
 qualitatively assess the anodized surface damage resulting from bicarbonate of  soda blasting.  The
 method required  visual inspection  of  the  same wheel after  it was stripped and  after  it  was
 repainted and restripped under the same stripping conditions.
            This  study did not evaluate  the effects of bicarbonate stripping  on metal  substrate
 damage and crack closure.  Studies performed by the bicarbonate media manufacturer (Lee and
 Kirschner,  1989;   McDonald,  1990;  Van  Sciver,  1989,   1990,  1991;  Williams,  1991),  an
 independent laboratory (Stropki, 1991), and the U.S. military (Haas,  1991; Singerman, 1991), have
 demonstrated negligible metal substrate damage  due to media  impact  or substrate corrosion, and
 have shown no signs of impediment to conventional methods of fatigue  crack detection.
            The concern over the  substrate corrosion  caused by corrosive  residues  entrapped
 within aircraft structures and crevices has been the focus of many studies (Lee and  Kirschner,
 1989; McDonald, 1990; Stropki,  1991; Van Sciver, 1989, 1990, 1991),  but was not  known to be
 a problem.  Sodium carbonate, a main contributing factor to metal substrate  corrosion, was not
 detected as  a chemical decomposition by-product under simulated aircraft operating  conditions
 {Stropki, 1991).
            The crack closure test was performed by the media manufacturer on 16 AI2024 T3
 alclad  (0.81-mm [0.32-in]) panels that were prepared according to ASTM Method E647 using  a
 Krouse 5-Kip, DOS fatigue machine.   The cracks induced were about 6.35 to 9.5 mm (0.25 to
 0.375  in)  long.   The test procedures and scanning electron micrographs of the alclad test panels
are presented in Appendix B.  The electron micrographs were taken sequentially:

     1.     After fatigue cracks were induced (Figure B-1),
     2.     After the  crack-induced panels  were painted with  military specification epoxy primer
            and polyurethane topcoat (Figure B-2), and
     3.     After the ARMEX® media blasting at 551 kPa {80 psi) pressure using a 60-degree blast
            angle, 30.5-cm (12-in) standoff, and 1.4-kg/min (3-lb/min) media flow (Figure B-3).
                                            16

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 The  results  of the  study indicated  that  the bicarbonate of  soda  stripping  did  not impede
 conventional methods of fatigue crack detection.  Therefore, similar tests were not repeated during
 this evaluation study.

 2.1  EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

 2.1.1  Stripping of Aircraft Wheels

            The wheel piece  (either outboard  or inboard)  to  be stripped was placed on  the
 turntable mounted on top of the grates (Figure 1-5).  The operator wearing the necessary safety
 attire (see  Section 3.2.1) blasted the wheel with  aviation-grade ARMEX® media  at a media flow
 rate of 1.1  kg/min (2.5 Ib/min), a water flow rate of 1.5-L/min (0.4 gal/min), and a nozzle pressure
 of 207 kPa (30 psi).  The impingement angles ranged  from 30 to 80 degrees and the standoff
 distance was about 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in).  At times,  the operator had to  halt the blasting, rinse
 off the media from the stripped wheel, and examine the stripped  area to determine  if additional
 stripping was  required. The stripping was continued until the operator believed that all paint layers
 had  been removed from the surface of the wheel. After stripping, all  eight outboard  and inboard
 wheel pieces  were  cloth-dried  and  transferred to the tire shop for the anodized surface damage
 inspection.

 2.1.2 Anodized Surface Damage Inspection

           Two outboard  and one inboard  wheel pieces  were selected for the anodized surface
 damage inspection.   The anodized surface  damage  was assessed according to the procedures
 described in Appendix A.   The stripped wheel pieces were first  photographed from about 30  cm
 (1 ft) away with a camera equipped with a close-range lens capable of documenting any nicks and
 scratches or lack thereof.  A team of three  experienced NDI technicians then examined the three
 wheel pieces and recorded their observations on the data sheet, specifying whether any noticeable
 damage was observed and  whether it was due to mechanical wear  or incidental damage from the
 blasting.  The  data sheet includes four questions that were designed to qualitatively measure the
 incidental damage that wheels endured during the blasting.
           After the inspection, all eight outboard and inboard wheel pieces  were repainted with a
zinc  chromate  primer and a clear aluminum finish coat mixed with an aluminum paste  in the paint
shop and  allowed  to dry for at  least 12 hours.  The wheel  pieces  were then restripped  and
photographed  as earlier.   The  same inspection team then reexamined the same wheel  pieces,
                                            17

-------
recorded new observations, especially signs of any new anodized surface damage, and documented
their opinions regarding the  cause  of the  new damage.  This procedure  compared stripping of
recently  dried  paint  with results  of stripping significantly older paint and  allowed effective
assessment of the anodized surface damage due to bicarbonate blasting.

2.2  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

            Table 2-1  summarizes the results of the inspection.   The wheel pieces selected  for
inspection were 6264 outboard, 6264 inboard, and 7755 outboard; their photographs after each of
the two blasting sessions are presented in Figures 2-1 through 2-3.  The questions were asked for
each wheel piece during the inspection.

Question 1. Is there any surface damage?

            The answers  were unanimously yes for all  wheel pieces inspected, indicating that
surface damage always existed in some form.

Question 2. If yes, is it anodized surface damage? Describe other damage.

            Again, the  answers were yes for all  wheel pieces inspected. Anodized surface damage
was observed on all wheel pieces.   In some cases, the  damage  was excessive. Other damage
observed included a worn  surface in areas around slots, ridges, and bead rim.  This damage was
believed to be caused  by tool contact, wear, and tear.  One inspector believed that the damage
was due  primarily to  the paint stripping  process used  in the  past that involved  repetitive
hand working such as brushing and sanding.

Question 3.1.  Is the anodized surface damage due primarily to mechanical wear?

           All three inspectors believed  that the anodized surface damage was due primarily  to
mechanical wear.  The mechanical wear occurred mainly around slots, the head rim  area, the tire
bead area, edges  of the rim, holes for bolts, and areas where tools made contact. The  wear was
caused by tool contact, metal-to-metal contact, paint stripping in the past, and everyday tire wear.
                                            18

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Figure 2-1. Photographs of aircraft wheel (SN 6264 outboard) taken after the first (top)
           and second (bottom) blasting.
                                        21

-------
Figure 2-2. Photographs of aircraft wheel (SN 6264 inboard) taken after the first (top)
           and second (bottom) blasting.
                                       22

-------
Figure 2-3. Photographs of aircraft wheel (SN 7755 outboard) taken after the first (top)
           and second (bottom) blasting.
                                       23

-------
 Question 3.2. Is the anodized surface damage due primarily to ARMEX* blasting?                  |
                                    "'  "'         .  "••''"'   ''                                      i
             After careful examination, two inspectors did not believe that the anodized surface damage  j
 was caused by the bicarbonate of soda blasting.  One inspector responded in three separate occasions  i
 suggesting  adverse effects of the blasting on the anodized surface.   However,  his answers were  >
 inconclusive and inconsistent with his overall comment  about the new stripping technology, 'The new  '
 stripping process is much better."                        •                                         '
                                        s-           -f  ' v                                ,     -    i

 Question 3.3.  Is the anodized surface damage due primarily to other causes?
                                                                                                 i
     <                                                                                            I
             The answers to question 3.3 were mixed. One inspector believed that the hot dip stripping   1
 process.in the past had caused deterioration  of the anodized surface.  The others, however, did  not   \
 seem to concur with him in his opinion.  The question was left unanswered in several  occasions.          <

 Question 4.  If this is a second run, do you notice any difference between                           '
             this and the previous inspection?                                                    ;
                                 '                        "                 .                       1
             All three inspectors unanimously agreed that they had not found any noticeable differences   ;
 on the surface of the wheels after the two separate blasting sessions.                                   \

 2.3 PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT                                                           •

            The major objective of NASA/JSC in depainting is to allow examination of the wheels  for   j
 metal fatigue cracks.  The blasting technology was effective in removing paint from the aircraft wheels.   !
 More importantly, bicarbonate blasting did not rework the surface to hide the fatigue cracks.               !
            NASA/JSC experience, and the  results of this  test indicate that the  bicarbonate blasting   !
 system was at least as effective as solvent stripping  in removing topcoat and primer without  masking   i
 cracks or other defects.  The question of the potential for damage to the anodized surface finish,   I
 however, had not been resolved by the NASA/JSC test program and, therefore, was  studied  in detail in   1
this project.   The special test method developed qualitatively assessed the anodized surface  damage   |
and the results did not suggest such damage as a result of bicarbonate blasting.                         i
                                              24

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                                           SECTION 3
                                WASTE REDUCTION/POLLUTION
                             PREVENTION POTENTIAL EVALUATION

            Pollution prevention is achieved  by reduction of waste at the source.  Pollution prevention
considers all waste types, for example, hazardous waste,  solid waste,  wastewater, air emissions, and
utility consumption.  Reductions must be true reductions in the volume and/or toxicity of waste and not
simply a transfer of waste from one medium to another.
            The  waste reduction  potential was measured  in terms  of volume  reduction and toxicity
reduction.  The reductions were quantified by comparing waste volumes and types from solvent stripping
with the wastes produced by bicarbonate stripping. Volume reduction addresses the gross wastestream,
such as solvent sludge and rinsewater from solvent stripping, as compared to liquid and solid wastes in
the  vat and wastewater in  the rotoclone  separator from  bicarbonate  stripping.   Toxicity reduction
considers concentrations and types of contaminants, such as solvents, oil and grease, TSS,  and  heavy
metals, in the gross wastestream.
            The  pollution prevention potential also considered hazards that the stripping technology
might pose to workers.  These include toxic airborne particulates and unsafe  noise exposures.  Air
quality was measured  in terms of airborne  metal concentrations.  Noise levels were measured on a
sound-level  meter and a dosimeter. The results of these  measurements will determine the proper  safety
attire to be worn by the equipment  operator.

3.1  SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE REDUCTION POTENTIAL

            The bicarbonate stripping process generates wastewater,  solid waste, a cloud of spray, and
paniculate in the vicinity of the nozzle and surface being depainted.  This contaminated air is exhausted
via hoods over the blast enclosures  and cleaned  via the rotoclone separator.  In cleaning the air, the
rotoclone separator  generates wastewater with low concentrations  of  heavy  metals.  A  full-face air-
purifying respirator (APR) was worn by the operator for this application. Noise measured during this test
was above Occupational Safety and  Health Act (OSHA) and  NASA permissible exposure limits (PELs),
requiring the operator to use hearing protectors.
            The  previous  solvent-based  depainting  processes  generated  volatile  organic  solvent
releases  to  the atmosphere and,  in the workplace, spent solvent,  solid waste, and  wastewater that
required off-site treatment and/or disposal as hazardous waste.  The overall volume of hazardous waste

                                               25

-------
 for the previous system was larger, although the total volume of all waste  (hazardous and  sewerable)
 generated by each system is comparable.  However, the significant volume  of nonhazardous waste (as
 defined  by local regulations) generated by the  bicarbonate process could be reused or recycled as
 process water, depending on the application.
             The  bicarbonate  blasting system  completely eliminates the  use of  hazardous organic
 solvents, mainly methylene chloride and phenols.  Both processes produce a sludge and wastewater.
 However, the volumes and characteristics are different, as analyzed in the following sections.  Use of this
 technology for other applications can be expected to produce significant variations which need to be
 investigated on an individual  basis. The P2 potential in substituting the system when the paint or coating
 itself is not hazardous appears lucrative.                                          :

 3.1.1  Experimental Methods

             Sampling Procedures.  At the conclusion of the stripping process (see Section  2.1.1), the
 bulk of the solid waste in the vat had gravity-settled.  The  liquid waste was  transferred, after sampling,
 from the vat to the 5,000-gal  storage tank sitting just outside the paint-stripping room. Samples  of liquid
 and solid  wastes in  the vat and/or the rotoclone  separator were taken according  to  the sampling
 procedures described  in Table  3-1.  (No solid  waste samples were collected from the  rotoclone
 separator because solids were present only in a very small  quantity in the bottom of  the separator.)  As
 a  precaution, all  sample containers were prewashed with a mixture of surfactant and  deionized water,
 followed  by deionized water alone. The number of samples collected is summarized in Table 1-3. The
 sample bottles were  carefully labeled and  placed in a  sample cooler for  transport to the analytical
 laboratory.  Enough nonflammable packing material  was spread  around the sample bottles  to ensure
 that they did not break.  The sample cooler accompanied by a chain-of-custody form was then labeled
 and shipped to the analytical  laboratory by Federal Express within 4 hours after sampling.
            In addition to the samples collected, a field  blank was taken of the blast  media  to assess
 extraneous contamination during sampling handling and shipping.  For the solid waste, a field  blank was
taken consisting of the blast media  shot directly  from the  nozzle into an open-mouth container.   This
 blank served to confirm that there was  no significant contribution of any of the  measured  analytical
parameters to the samples collected from the blast system itself. The field blank also demonstrated that
samples  had not become contaminated during shipping.
            A sample of on-site tap water also was collected for analysis.  The tap water  supply is the
source of  water for  the bicarbonate  blasting system,  the part  rinsing process,  and the  rotoclone
separator.   The background  sample allows an assessment of increases in  contaminants due to the
process operations.
                                               26

-------
                            TABLE 3-1.  SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Analyte
Liquid waste
TSS
Oil & Grease
PH
Metals
Sample
Quantity
in vats
100 mL
1,000 mL
100mL
1 00 mL
Sampling
Method

Grabb
Grabb
Grabb
Grabb
Holding Time
(Days)

7
28
7
1 80
Sample
Preservation

4°C
4°C, HCI
to pH <2
4°C
Ambient, HN03
Container*

P
Gd
P
P
  Solid waste in vat
  Metals (total
  and teachable)
1,000 mL
Grab0
180
                                                                to pH <2
4°C
  Liquid waste in rotoclone
  separator
  Metals
 100 mL
Grabb
180
                                                                  4°C
* G - Glass, P - Polyethylene.
b EPA Method III - 1, Sampling Surface Waters Using a Dipper or Other Transfer Device.
c EPA Method II - 3, Collection of Sludge or Sediment Samples with a Scoop.
d Borosillcate glass.
            Analytical  Measurements.   Table 3-2  lists  all the  anaiytes,  their  corresponding
analytical  methods, and the expected quality assurance objectives.  In accordance with the U.S.
EPA (1987)  requirements, officially approved  and validated methods were selected  for  these
analyses.    Total  suspended  solids  (TSS)  are  nonfilterable  residues;  TSS  were  measured
gravirnetrically  using  EPA  Method  160.2.    Oil  and  grease  were  measured  by  infrared
spectrophotometry (EPA  Method  413.2), which has greater accuracy than  gravimetric analysis.
Acidity was measured  using EPA Method 150.1 to ensure that the pH level met proper disposal
standards. Concentrations of metals (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn) from paint residue were
monitored, as well, according  to  EPA Method 6010.  Solid  wastes collected from the vat were
measured  for the same total and leachable metals using the TCLP test (EPA Method 1311) and EPA
Method 6010.  These  analyses were performed to determine the mobility of heavy  metals.  All
analytical  measurements were performed by an independent laboratory.  Instruments  were carefully
calibrated  according to the specified  standard methods before sample analyses.
                                            27

-------
3.1.2  Results and Discussion

            Liquid Waste in the Vat.  About 114 L (30 gal) of wastewater (exclusive of the rotoclone
separator) were generated during each of the two blasting sessions, or about 28.4 L (7.5 gal/wheel).
Samples of the wastewater were collected at the conclusion of the first blasting session and analyzed for
oil and grease, TSS, pH, and total metals; the results are presented in Table 3-3. The only measurement
that exceeded the planned deviation for precision was oil and grease (mean value, 49.1 mg/L; standard
deviation, 13.8 mg/L  for a relative  percent deviation of 28%).  The variation was expected because
samples collected  sequentially from the  vat might contain different amounts of insoluble oil and oil
sheen.  The TSS was  253  mg/L.  The pH measured in the wastewater was 8.37, indicating an NaHCQj-
saturated solution.  The average total metal concentrations were 0.033, 8.090, 1.240,  1.430, 0.022,  0.006,
and 5.990 mg/L for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn, respectively.  The Cr concentration did not meet the
locat discharge limits (City of Houston, 1989), so the wastewater could not be disposed of to the POTW.
Consequently, the  liquid waste  had to be temporarily stored in the 19,000-L (5,000-gai)  storage tank
before off-site disposal.
            Solid  Waste  in the Vat. The amount of the solid waste settled to the bottom of the vat
after  the first  blasting  session  was about 8  gal  (or  2  gal per wheel),  based  on  the  following
data/assumptions:

    <•  Media flow rate-1.1 kg/min (2.5 Ib/min)
      •  Stripping and  rinsing time- 12 min/wheel set
      •  Total nozzle blast time - 75%
      •  Moisture content of the solid waste- 50% (based on laboratory analysis)
      •  Media density- 2.22 g/cc
      «  Solubility of NaHCQ - 1  in 10 parts of water.

            Samples  of the solid waste were taken for total metal and TCLP analyses.  As  shown in
Table 3-4, 2.73, 146.07, 32.97, 70.87, 2.77, 0.72, and 281.33 mg/kg of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn,
respectively, were found in the solid waste.  Among these amounts of metal, only a very small fraction
was leachable under the TCLP conditions.  TCLP requires the waste to meet limits of 1.0  mg/L Cd, 5.0
mg/L Cr, and  5.0 mg/L Pb.  No regulations have been set for Cu, Mn,  Ni, and Zn.   The results  of the
study indicated that the metals analyzed were in lower concentrations than the established limits.  No
analyses were made for As,  Ba, Hg,  or Se, because for the purposes of this application they were not
considered as  important.
                                              28

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             Liquid  Waste in Rotoclone Separator.  The wastewater in the  rotoclone separator was
 sewerable.   It  contained less than detection limit of TSS and  a very small amount  of heavy  metals,
 ranging from 0.005 mg/L of  Cd to 0.489 mg/L of Zn (see Table 3-5). The pH of the wastewater was
 8.23. The amount of wastewater generated from each of the two blasting sessions was about 980 L (260
 gal).  At this location, the wastewater was sent to the sewer without treatment.  Potentially this water
 could be reused or recycled as process water, depending on the application.

 3.2  AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION PREVENTION  POTENTIAL

             The air  and noise levels around the operator of the  bicarbonate blasting were monitored to
 quantify the occupational hazards.  Bicarbonate of soda does not pose health risks, but the blasting may
 release toxic metals  to the ambient air from  the paint chips.  Based on the concentrations of metals in
 air samples  and considering exposure time, estimates of the health risk were  made for bicarbonate
 blasting.  Also,  A-weighted dosimeter readings were converted to time-weighted averages to determine if
 sound levels exceeded federal regulations. If they did, C-weighted readings were used to determine the
 proper noise reduction rating  (NRR) of the hearing  protection.

 3-2-1 Experimental  Methods

             Airborne Metals Exposure Study.  During the blasting process, the operator wore a North
 full-face APR with stacked high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and organic vapor cartridges.  Earplugs,
 earmuffs, gloves, and a waterproof slicker outfit were also worn.  During blasting, the debris and media
 formed a wet cloud  that  extended outside  the confines of the exhaust  hood and partially over the
 operator  during blasting. Most of  the cloud was  drawn back into the hood by the ventilation system.
 No particulates  were  observed escaping the building.
             NASA/JSC Environmental Health Services  (EHS) collected air samples during the  two
 blasting sessions.  One primary and two  replicate samples were taken from the breathing zone of the
 operator on each occasion (Atkins, 1992a).  One background sample was collected one day before the
first test blasting occurred. Calibrated Gilian pumps, model HFS 513A, and 37  mm,  0.8 micron/and
 mixed  cellulose ester  membrane  filter cassettes  were used for sample collection.  Samples were
collected  at 2.96 to  3.13 L/min.   The sample collection and analyses were performed following the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7300 for the analysis of metals by
inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). The samples were analyzed for
Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb,  and Zn at NASA/JSC EHS Laboratory.
                                              32

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            Noise Exposure Study. Significant levels of noise were generated by the bicarbonate of
soda blasting.  NASA/JSC EHS evaluated the operator's exposure to the potential noise hazards (Atkins,
1992b). The two main sources of noise to the operator were the blast nozzle and the ventilation system.
The operator opted to wear double  hearing  protection in the form of foam plugs  and muffs for the
duration of the process. The combined noise reduction rating for the double hearing protection was 40
decibels (dB).
            Noise exposure monitoring was performed during the two separate blasting sessions.  The
first session lasted 59 min and the  second  70 min.  Sound-level  measurements were made with a
calibrated Bruel and Kjaer (B & K)  Model 2230 sound-level meter, which conforms to the requirements
for a Type 1 sound-level meter as specified in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S1.4-1971.
Several periodic measurements were made in  the immediate area of  the process. These measurements
represent  noise produced  by the blast nozzle and the ventilation systems.  In addition, two calibrated
Metrosonics Model db-308 sound-level dosimeter/analyzers were placed  on the operator to log sound-
level exposures while stripping wheels. The dosimeters met the requirements of ANSI S 1.25-1978 and
were  programmed to  integrate sound levels from  80 to 130 dB.   Two  dosimeters were  used  so
measurements could  be collected in both "A" and "C" scales.  The dosimeter microphones were clipped
vertically  within  the  operator's hearing zone with  the  data-loggers secured  at the waist.   These
measurements represent noise produced by the blast nozzle, the ventilation systems, and all other noise
created in the proximal environment during the blasting  session.

3.2.2  Results and Discussion

            Airborne Metals Exposure Study.  The  Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have established
PELs  and Threshold  Limit Values (TLVs) for the airborne metal  contaminants  of concern in this study.
The PELs and TLVs are listed in Table 3-6.  Excluding chromates, all  specified PELs and TLVs are based
on an 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) exposure. The OSHA PEL for chromates  is based  on a ceiling
concentration.   Cadmium  has both an  8-hr  PEL and a  ceiling concentration  limit;   Because  of the
number of primary and replicate samples required for this study, only the 8-hr TWA was considered for
the zinc chromate and cadmium fractions.   The ceiling limits for zinc chromate and cadmium were not
evaluated during this study.                                                    .
            The results of the airborne metal exposure study are presented in Table 3-6.  The results
indicate that 8-hr TWA exposures to the airborne metals were below specified OSHA and ACGIH limits.
Regardless of sample types (i.e., primary and replicate samples, background sample, and field blanks)
                                              34

-------
no metals were detected by ICP/AES.  The ICP/AES detection limits were 0.001 mg for Cd; 0.005 mg
for Cr, Cu, and Pb; and 0.009 mg for Zn.
            A similar experiment (Atkins,  1989), conducted earlier by NASA/JSC EHS inside a hangar
with the hanger doors closed, resulted in a serious overexposure to Cr (i.e., 0.4 mg/m3).  Exposures to
the  other contaminants  such  as  Cu, Pb,  and  Zn did  not  exceed  the  PELs,  but  the reported
concentrations  of Cu and  Zn were as  high  as  0.47  and 0.83  mg/m3,  respectively.   (The Pb
concentrations were below the detection limit for the analytical method and time period sampled.)  The
results of this  study  prompted NASA/JSC  EHS to recommend  that  the  blasting process not be
performed in hangars or situations where the waste and/or paniculate cloud could not be contained and
that operators  of this blasting equipment  be required  to wear a full-face APR with  HEPA filters.
Meanwhile, NASA/JSC EHS endorsed plans to construct the exhaust ventilation system in  place during
this test.

            Noise Exposure Study.  Sound levels measured periodically in the operator's hearing zone
during the two separate blasting sessions ranged from 76.8 dB on the "A'-weighted scale (dBA) to. 120.0
dBA.  Levels ranging from 64.6 to 67.4 dBA were measured outside the flapped doors of the stripping
room.  Dosimetry samples integrated cumulative noise exposures of 106.6 and 101.7 dBA for  the first
and the second blasting session, respectively.  These samples are based on 8-hr TWA calculated from
dosirnetry results recorded during the period sampled. If the actual work period were increased to a full
8 hr, the projected 8-hr TWAs would be 121.3 and 115.9 dBA, respectively.  A peak level of 146 dB, the
maximum level the dosimeter is capable of measuring, was recorded during both periods sampled.
            According to 29 CFR 1910.95 (OSHA, 1990)  the OSHA  PEL for noise  exposure  is 90  dBA
per 8-hr day as a TWA.  OSHA also requires that any worker exposed to an action level of  85  dBA
(TWA), or greater,  be  included in a hearing conservation  program.   Hearing protectors must attenuate
employee exposure at least to  an 8-hour TWA of 90 decibels. The NASA Health Standard on  Hearing
Conservation, NHS/IH-1845.4 specifies 85 dBA (TWA) as  a PEL per 8-hr day and requires any worker
exposed to an action level of 80 dBA (TWA), or greater, 30 days  or longer per year, to be included in a
hearing conservation  program.   The NASA  standard states that hearing protectors  must attenuate
employee exposure to a level of 85 dBA or lower.  Both standards  require engineering controls to be
used as a primary means of exposure control and additional hearing protector attenuation for workers
experiencing a standard threshold shift based on audiometric testing.
                                             35

-------








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            Noise exposure  may be  controlled  by  means of work  duration  limitations  through
administrative control or by use of personal protective equipment, or both, while engineering controls are
being developed or are not feasible.  Due to the variation of actual time spent by workers operating the
blasting equipment, Table 3-7 was developed listing the projected noise exposures based  on increased
work  periods and hearing protector attenuation requirements as a function  of work duration.  The
attenuation required was calculated based on 29 CFR 1910.95, Appendix B, "Methods for Estimating the
Adequacy of Hearing Protector Attenuation," Method (ii). The attenuation required ranges from 23.6 to
38.3 dBA  under the OSHA criterion, and from 28.3 dBA to 43.3 dBA under the NASA criterion. The
double hearing protection worn by the operator during blasting reduced exposures to  below regulatory
limits.

  TABLE 3-7. PROJECTED 8-HOUR NOISE EXPOSURES AND REQUIRED NOISE ATTENUATION
Work Duration
(hi)
-0.995 (Actual)
2
' 4 '
6
8
a Based on
b on ,-inA ™
Noise Exposure
8-hour TWAa (dBA)
OSHA
106.6
! 111.6
116.6
119.5
121.3
0.995-hr average of 121
NASA
106.3
111.3
116.3
119.3
121.3
.3 dBA.
Attenuation Required
(dBA)
OSHA
23.6
28.6
33.6
36.5
38.3

NASA0
28.3
33.3
38.3
41.3
43.3

     c  85 dBA criterion.
 3.3  WASTE REDUCTION/POLLUTION PREVENTION ASSESSMENT

            Pollution prevention benefit is the net difference between the old system and the new.  In
 this  case, a solvent paint removal system was replaced with bicarbonate blasting.  Because the types of
 wastestreams  generated by each system vary in species,  concentrations, amounts released, and  the
 associated health and ecological  impacts, a direct comparison of reductions of similar wastes is  not
 possible.  There is no common denominator to determine improvements on an absolute scale. We can
 list the two sets of data and draw relative significance, as shown in Table 3-8.
                                              38

-------
  TABLE 3-8. SUMMARY OF POLLUTION PREVENTION POTENTIAL FOR BICARBONATE PAINT
              REMOVAL
    Environmental
   Media/Concern
        Bicarbonate Blasting
          Solvent
 Solvent Liquid
 Solid Waste
 Water
 Air Emissions


 Noise
• None


• Bicarbonate and paint debris
  610 gallons/year

• Water from blasting and floor rinse
  5,000 gallons/year
  (exceeds POTW limits)

• Water from off-gas treatment
  scrubber (rotoclone)
  36,000 gallons/year (does not
  exceed POTW limits)

• Particulates (metals in room air
  below detection limits)

• Potential for > 90 dBA hearing
 , protection or administrative limits
  on work time required
Spent solvent
220 gallons/year

Solvent sludge and paint debris
6,600 gallons/year

Rinsewater
16,000  gallons/year
(exceeds POTW limits)
Organic vapors
Ambient levels maintained
            The most obvious pollution prevention benefit gained by using bicarbonate blasting is the
complete elimination of solvent use, which eliminates generation of spent solvent wastes and releases.
In addition, the quantity of stripping media/solvent waste and paint debris is reduced by a factor of 10.
When using bicarbonate blasting,  the  operator  can observe  paint removal progress,  make  control
adjustments, and  typically complete the removal  in a single pass.  With solvent stripping, the part is
soaked  in  solvent and then  scrubbed  with  brushes  and/or  abrasive materials supplemented by
rinsewater.   The soak and clean process usually is repeated several times.  The multiple soak/clean
cycles and combination of solvent and flushing water produce a large volume of organic sludge and
wastewater.
            The bicarbonate blasting process produces a greater total volume of wastewater. However,
the volume of water  containing metal concentrations above POTW limits is smaller.  The bulk of the
wastewater from bicarbonate  blasting is produced by the rotoclone off-gas  cleaning  equipment.  The
metal content of this water is near the background for local tap water.
                                              39

-------
            The main drawbacks to bicarbonate blasting are the  production of paniculate emissions
and  the increased  noise  levels.   Particulates and  noise have  been  controlled  at the NASA/JSC
installation by a combination of engineered features and administrative controls.
            The exhaust ventilation  system  reduced the hazardous airborne  metals concentrations
outside of the three-sided exhaust enclosure to acceptable levels.   However, a considerable amount of
blast media and debris was observed to  be deflected onto the operator's APR and protective clothing
during blasting.  The  full-face APR used in  the  study provided adequate protection and should be
continued to  be used.  Meanwhile,  modifications to the system  to reduce the cloud  of spray and
reducing wastewater generation should be investigated.  These include installing baffles  to reduce the
amount of visible paniculate cloud observed outside the enclosure and adding lighting fixtures to provide
good  visibility  inside the enclosure.   Possible designs to handle debris and  spray that require no
rotocloning should also be considered.
            Noise  measurements performed  clearly  indicate that, under the conditions encountered
during this study, hazardous  noise exposures can  result from this  process.  Therefore,  engineering
control  of noise exposures should  be investigated.   Hearing  protection devices for all personnel  who
operate or work in the  vicinity  of the operation should  be provided.  Evaluation of the hearing protectors
used during the actual  times worked during this study indicate that the protectors reduced exposures to
below the OSHA and NASA permissible exposure limits. For compliance with the NASA NHS/IH-1845.4,
work durations using the blasting equipment and the  hearing protectors assigned should not exceed 5
hr in an 8-hr work shift  (Atkins, 1992b),  NHS/IH-1845.4 requires  use of both plugs and  muffs when
exposures equal or exceed 110 dBA.   NASA EHS also requires all personnel who routinely operate the
blasting equipment to be placed in a hearing testing and evaluation program at the NASA/JSC clinic.
            Beyond this application,  depainting via  bicarbonate  blasting could be  considered  as a
substitute for  a spectrum of other operations requiring  removal  of  paint,  coatings  or  surface
contaminants.  Paints  or coatings  and substrates, themselves containing no hazardous constituents,
could produce  non-hazardous  waste and totally eliminate the related concern and expense involved with
handling and  disposition.   The residue  and waste  water then could be  candidates for reuse  and
recycling.  It sould  be  noted that this is one of a number of  potential substitutes for toxic  solvent  use.
Each application should consider the best  fit for its requirements.
                                               40

-------
                                       -   SECTION 4

                                   ECONOMIC EVALUATION


            The comparison of costs between bicarbonate blasting and solvent stripping  included the

use of data on stripping time per wheel using bicarbonate  blasting, NASA/SJC's historical data on

chemical stripping and complimentary information from the vendor  regarding the blasting system. The

capital investment, operating costs, and  payback period were calculated according to the worksheets

provided in the Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual  (U.S. EPA, 1988).


4.1 CAPITAL INVESTMENT


            The following lists the capital investment and capital cost inputs used in the worksheet (see
Table 4-1):


     •  Equipment costs  include $15,000 for an ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM™ Model  16W and  $17,375 for an
        INGERSOL-RAND trailer-mounted diesel-powered compressor,  plus 10%  for freight charges,
        taxes, spare parts, etc.

     •  Materials and installation costs include piping, valves,  fittings, and electrical and  water supplies
        for the blasting system, plus  the costs for building and facility  modification and installation of
        pollution prevention equipment including a No. 12 Type W rotoclone,  a separator, two hoods
        with exhaust  ducts, and a storage cabinet.

     •  Plant engineering costs are assumed to be 15%  of the sum of the equipment,  materials, and
        installation costs.

     •  Contingency  costs are assumed to be 10% of all of the above costs  (or fixed-capital investment).

     •  Working capital is based on 1 month's supply of ARMEX® blast media (assuming  that blasting is
        performed monthly for 10 hours  and  70% of the stripping time is nozzle blast time; the media
        flow rate is 2.5 Ib/min; and the media  price is $0.68/Ib).

     .•  Startup costs are  based on 10% of the fixed capital investment.

     •  Equity of 100% is assumed  because this is a government-funded project and there  was no
        money-lending involved.  If a loan were taken, the percent debt and interest rate would have
        been entered here.

     •  Because NASA/JSC does not incur taxes, no tax rate is included.

     •  The depreciation period is assumed to be 7 years, and the escalation rate and cost of capital are
        assumed to be 5% and 15%, respectively.
                                              41

-------
                  TABLE 4-1. INPUTS AND OUTPUTS FOR CAPITAL COSTS

Input
Capital Cost
Equipment
Materials and Installation
Plant Engineering
Contractor/Engineering
Permitting Costs
Contingency
Working Capital
Startup Costs

% Equity
% Debt
Interest Rate on Debt, %
Debt Repayment, years
Depreciation period
Income Tax Rate, %

Escalation Rates, %
Cost of Capital



$35,613
$127,900
$24,527
$0
$0
$18,804
$1,020
$18,804

100%
0%
0.00%
0
7
0.00%

5.0%
15.00%
Output
Capital Requirement
Construction Year
Capital Expenditures
Equipment
Materials and Installation
Plant Engineering
Contractor/Engineering
Permitting Costs
Contingency
Startup Costs
Depreciable Capital
Working Capital
Subtotal
Interest on Debt
Total Capital
Equity Investment
Debt Principal
Interest on Debt
Total Financing



1

$35,613
$127,900
$24,527
$0
$0
$18,804
$18,804
$225,648
$1,020
$226,668
$0
$226,668
$226,668
$0
$0
$226,668

4.2 OPERATING COSTS

           The operating costs of stripping aircraft wheels using the ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM" are
calculated based on the following data and assumptions:

     • Total working days per year are 250 days,
     • Media cost is $0.68/lb.
     • Media flow rate is 2.5 Ib/min.
     • Media density is 2.22 g/cc.
                                          42

-------
      «  Media solubility in water is 1 in 10 parts of water.
      •  Stripping time includes time for nozzle blasting (75%), rinsing-off blast media
        from the stripped surface (15%), and inspecting (10%).
      •  Moisture content of the solid waste collected from the vat is 50%.
      •  Water usage for blasting and rinsing off is 1 gal/min.  Water flow rate during blasting is 0.4
        gal/min.  Rinsing-off flow rate is assumed to be 0.6 gal/min of nozzle blasting.
      •  Water consumed for floor washdown is 10 gal/day.
      •  Rotoclone water flow rate is 5 gal/min.
      •  Total system operation time is twice the stripping time.
      •  Water  cost is  $6.12/1,000 gal  (including  $2.16/1,000  gal of  potable  water  and
        $3.96/1,000 gal of sewage discharge).
    ••  Electricity required to operate  rotoclone is 4.15  kW/hr.
      •  Diesel fuel required to operate  the INGERSOL-RAND compressor is  25 gal/month.  The
        diesel fuel cost is $0.684/gal.
      •  Cost of one reconditioned drum is $20.
      •  Cost to dispose of one drum of nonhazardous solid waste is $80.
      •  Cost to dispose of nonhazardous  liquid waste is $0.20/gal.
      •  The labor cost is $18.14/hr.

            Table 4-2 summarizes the man-hours required for stripping the wheels done annually
for the  NDI, and the quantity of  solid and liquid wastes generated as a result of the  bicarbonate
blasting.  About 60 hours are needed to strip all wheels.  About 610 gal of settled  bicarbonate
media and  paint debris sludge  and  2,500  gal of  bicarbonate  media  propellent water  will be
produced as solid and liquid wastes, respectively.  Furthermore, 2,500 gal of floor washdown will
be combined into the liquid  waste for off-site disposal.  Therefore, the total quantity of the liquid
waste produced and required off-site disposal will be 5,000 gal  annually.   The disposal costs
(including  costs  for drums and waste disposal) for the  solid and  liquid wastes are $1,300  and
$ 1,000, respectively, per year.
                                             43

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            As shown in Table 4-3, the time required to strip a wheel piece and to rinse off blast
 media and debris from the stripped wheel  piece ranges from 3.65 to 8.62 min for an outboard and
 from 4.5 to 9.23 min for an inboard. The average stripping time per wheel set (one outboard and
 one inboard) is about 12 min. One earlier NASA/JSC (1989) study reported a 20-min stripping time
 for one KC-97 wheel by  bicarbonate blasting versus 8 hours by chemical strippers. The time saved
 in that study was more than 95%.

                                 TABLE 4-3.  STRIPPING TIME
                                                       Stripping Time8 (min)
Serial Number
6264

2188

8312

7755
6748
Outboard/Inboard
ob
ic
o
i
o
i
0
' i
First Stripping
5.13
5.63
7.68
6.80
3.70
4.50
3.65
6.53
!1 ' " 	 	
Second Stripping
4.45
5.73
8.62
9.23
3.85
6.12
4.08
8.25
Average
4.79
5.68
8.15
8.02
3.78
5.31
3.87
7.39
     8 Including time to flush blast media from stripped wheels
     b Outboard.
     cInboard.
Average,, =  5.15
Averagej = 6.60
           The liquid waste produced from the rotoclone operation is 36,000 gal per year.  The
wastewater can be discharged into the POTW; therefore, no extra costs will be incurred.
           The operating costs for bicarbonate blasting are compared with those  for the old
chemical stripping process.   Four drums  (55 gal) of spent chemical stripping fluid were used
annually.  Disposal costs were  $400/drum.   The  disposal of the  spent stripper was $500/drum
(including  $20 for a  reconditioned  drum).  The wastewater volume produced was about 16,000
gal, which was disposed of at a rate of 4,000 gal  every 3 months.  Due to the presence of paint
debris and solvent, the wastewater was treated as hazardous and was tanked  away for disposal at
$0.20/gal.  Solvent sludge and paint debris were drummed for off-site disposal.  About 10  drums
of stripping sludge were produced every month, and the disposal costs were about $300/drum.
                                           45

-------
            Other operating cost inputs used in the worksheet include (see Table 4-4):

     •  Raw material costs  are based on an annual  supply  of ARMEX8 blast media and B&B 9201
        chemical stripper.
     •  Operating labor hours for the blasting and chemical stripping processes are 120 and 886 hours,
        respectively.
     •  The operating supplies and maintenance costs are assumed to be similar for both processes.
     •  Operating supplies are assumed to be 30% of the operating labor costs.
     •  Maintenance labor  costs  are assumed  to  be 2% of the capital cost, and the maintenance
        material costs are 1% of the capital cost.
     •  Other labor costs include  supervision (30%  of O&M labor), plant overhead (25% of O&M labor
        and supervision costs), and labor burden (28% of O&M labor and supervision costs).

4.3 RESULTS OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

            Tables  4-5 and  4-6 present the results  of the economic analysis.  A  return on investment
(ROI)  greater than 15% (which is the cost of  capital) is obtained  in 4  years.  This  implies that the
payback period for NASA/JSC is 4 years.  The relatively fast payback period occurs primarily because
waste disposal costs can be reduced by $38,900 per year.

4.4 ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

            Bicarbonate of soda blasting has good potential for  reducing paint removal costs.  Paint
stripping shops may find this technology highly beneficial, especially as more stringent federal and local
regulations are  being implemented to govern the disposal of toxic solvent-contaminated wastes.  Cost
reductions  were realized from the  decrease in hazardous waste  and  reduced labor.  Savings  in
elimination of solvent purchases are offset by blast media costs.
            Applications that generate no hazardous waste when switching to the  blasting process (i.e.
no toxics in the paints or coatings removed) may be  more lucrative.
                                              46

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TABLE 4-4.  ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS AND SAVINGS OF BICARBONATE BLASTING
          COMPARED TO SOLVENT STRIPPING
Operating Cost/Revenue
Marketable By-Products
Rate
Price
Total $/yr

Utilities (per year)
Gas
Electric
Fuel Oil
Process Water
Total $/yr
Raw Materials
Total, $/yr
Waste Disposal Savings
Off-site Fees, $
Storage Drums, $
Total Disposal Savings


$0
$0
$0


$0
$0
$205
$110
$315

$2,651

$38,900
$0
$38,900

Operating Labor, Savings
Operator hr/yr
Wage rate, $/hr

Operating Supplies
(% of Operating Labor)

Maintenance Costs
(% of Capital Costs)
Labor
Materials
Supervision
(%of O&M Labor)
Overhead Costs
(% of O&M Labor + Super.)
Plant Overhead
Home Office
Labor Burden

766
$18.14

30%




2.00%
1.00%

30.0%


25.0%
0.0%
28.0%
                                 47

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TABLE 4-5. ANNUAL OPERATING SAVINGS FROM BICARBONATE BLASTING COMPARED
         TO SOLVENT STRIPPING
Revenue and Cost Factors
Operating Year
Number
Escalation Factor 1.
1

000 1.050
2

1.103
3

1.158
4

1.216
5

1.276
6

1.340
Increased Revenues
Increased
Production
Marketable By-
Products
Annual Revenue
Operating Savings (Numbers
Raw Materials
Disposal Costs
Maintenance Labor
Maintenance Supplies
Operating Labor
Operating Supplies
Utilities
Supervision
Labor Burden
Plant Overhead
Home Office
Overhead
Total Operating
Savings
$0

$0

$0
$0

$0

$0
$0

$0

$0
$0

$0

$0
$0

$0

$0
$0

$0

$0
in parentheses indicate net expense)
($2,784)
$40,845
$3,434
$1,717
$14,590
$4,377
($331)
$5,407
$6,561
$5,858
$0

$79,674

($2,923)
$42,887
$3,605
$1,803
$15,320
$4,596
($347)
$5,677
$6,889
$6,151
$0

$83,658

($3,069)
$45,032
$3,786
$1,893
$16,085
$4,826
($365)
$5,961
$7.233
$6,458
$0

$87,840

($3,222)
$47,283
$3.975
$1,988
$16^890
$5,067
($383)
$6,259
$7,595
$6,781
$0

$92,232

($3,383)
$49,647
$4,174
$2,087
$17,734
$5,320
($402)
$6,572
$7,975
$7,120
$0

$96,844

($3,553)
$52,130
$4,382
$2,191
$18,621
$5,586
($422)
$6,901
$8,373
$7,476
$0

$101,686

                                    48

-------
TABLE 4-6.  RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CHANGE FROM SOLVENT STRIPPING
          TO BICARBONATE BLASTING
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Construction Year
Operating Year
Book Value
Depreciation
(by straight-line)
Depreciation
(by double DB)
Depreciation
1
1
$225,648 $161,177
$32,235

$64,471

$64,471

2
$115,127
$32,235

$46,051

$46,051

3
$82,233
$32,235

$32,893

$32,893

4
$49,998
$32,235

$23,495

$32,235

5
$17,762
$32,235

$14,285

$32,235

6
$0
$32,235

$5,075

$17,762
Cash Flows
Construction Year
Operating Year
Revenues
+ Operating
Savings
Net Revenues
- Depreciation
Taxable Income
- Income Tax
Profit after Tax
•)- Depreciation
After-Tax
Cash Flow
Cash Flow for ROI
Net Present Value
Return on
Investment
1
1
$0
$79,674

$79,674
$64,471
$15,203
$0
$15,203
$64,471
$79,674

($226,668) $79,674
($226,668) ($157,386)
-64.85%


2
$0
$83,658

$83,658
$46,051
$37,607
$0
$37,607
$46,051
$83,658

$83,658
($94,129)
-19.18%


3
$0
$87,840

$87,840
$32,893
$54,947
$0
$54,947
$32,893
$87,840

$87.840
($36,373)
5.22%


4
$0
$92,232

$92,232
$32,235
$59,997
$0
$59,997
$32,235
$92,232

$92,232
$16,362
18.43%


5
$0
$96,844

$96,844
$32,235
$64,609
$0
$64,609
$32,235
$96,844

$96,844
$64,510
26.05%


6
$0
$101,686

$101,686
$17,762
$83,924
$0
$83,924
$17,762
$101,686

$101,686
$108,472
30.70%

                               49

-------
                                           SECTION 5
                                     QUALITY ASSURANCE
            A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPjP) had been prepared and  approved by the U.S.
EPA before on-site testing  began (Chen,  1991).  The QAPjP  contains a detailed description of the
experimental design and  specific  quality assurance objectives.  The  QAPjP also includes analytical
procedures  and calibration, as well  as methods for internal  quality  control checks, performance and
system  audits,  and corrective action.  Discussion pertinent to quality  assurance is provided in Sections
5.1  and 5.2.

5.1  QUALITY ASSURANCE OBJECTIVES

            The four quantitative data quality indicators, i.e., precision, accuracy,  method detection limit
(MDL) and completeness,  for the various measurements required for  this study have been set at  levels
shown in Table 3-2.  Precision for most of the measurements is estimated by calculating relative percent
difference (RPD) of laboratory duplicates.   Precision for pH is estimated by calculating the pH  limit for
duplicates.  Accuracy for  most  of the measurements is estimated using percent recovery of laboratory
matrix  spikes.  For pH measurements, bias is determined by analysis of standard reference materials.
Completeness is presented as the percentage of valid data over the total number of measurements.
            The MDLs for ICP  are 0.005,  0.007,  0.003,  0.017, 0.001, 0.005, and 0.003 mg/L for Cd, Cr,
Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and  Zn,  respectively.   The MDLs for TSS and oil and grease are 10 and 0.5 mg/L,
respectively.   The sensitivity for pH measurement  is <  0.1  pH  unit.  The MDLs for airborne  metal
particulates are 0.001  mg/filter for Cd, 0.005 mg/filter for Cr, Cu and pb, and 0.009 mg/filter for Zn. All
of these are within the limits set in Table 3-2.
            In  addition  to the  four  data quality indicators,   ICP  calibration  verification  and  ICP
interference check were also performed for the total and leachable  metal  analyses in the laboratory.
These data are included in Appendix C.
            The data quality indicators calculation does not apply to  the anodized surface damage test
arid the  noise exposure test.   Anodized surface  damage   was  generally  qualitative; therefore,
quantitatively assessing precision and accuracy  did not apply.  The  precision  and accuracy of the
sound-level meter and dosimeter are manufacturer-specified.
                                               50

-------
            No independent on-site audits were performed during on-site testing  and laboratory
 analyses.  However, the Battelle  Study Leader and QA Officer reviewed the analytical  data  for
 compliance with the QA objectives after completion of laboratory testing.

 5.1.1  Precision

            Precision quantifies the repeatability of a given measurement.  The RPDs for TSS and
 metals measurements are calculated by equation (1) and presented in Table 5-1:

                       RPD(%)=  I (Regular) - (Duplicate))   y 1QQ%                       n)
                                  (Regular  + Duplicate)/2                     >

 As shown  in  Table 5-1,  the  RPDs  range  from  -12.9% to  14.3%  for  TSS  and all  metal
 measurements  (including total and leachable  metals in liquid and/or solid  wastes).  The RPDs are
 well  within the  limits  (i.e.,  ±25%)  specified  in the  QAPjP.   The RPD  for oil and grease
 measurements  (1 .2%, see Table 5-2) is calculated according to equations (2) and (3):
                            RPD{%) =     1     2   x 100%                            (2)
                                        (C, + C2)/2

                where Cx = (Spiked Sample)x - (Regular Sample)x  x = 1 , 2                (3)
            Precision limit for pH is estimated using the following equation (4):
               Precision Limit = pH (Regular Sample) - pH (Duplicate Sample)                (4)
The precision limit is  -0.005 and 0 pH unit for the two wastewaters analyzed (see Table 5-3),
which, again, are within the limit specified  (i.e., ±0.1  pH unit).  The RPDs for airborne metals
measurements were not calculated because all analyzed data were beneath the method detection
limits.
                                            5.1

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        Because only duplicate observations were made during analyses, RPDs, rather than
RSDs,  became the appropriate estimators of  precision  and, therefore, were  used for the
above calculations.

5.1.2 Accuracy

        Accuracy refers to the percentage of a known amount of analyte recovered from a
given matrix.  Percent recoveries for metals (including total, teachable,  and airborne) and oil
and grease measurements are estimated by equation (5) and presented in Tables 5-2, 5-4,
and 5-5:
             Recovery (%) =   (Spiked Sample) ~  (Re9ular SamP|e)   x 100%        (5)
                                ,  (Spike Added)

All data in these tables are within the limits specified.   The bias of pH measurements has
been determined  using a standard reference electrolyte solution.

5.1.3 Completeness

        Completeness refers to the percentage of valid data  received from actual testing
done in the laboratory.  Completeness is calculated as follows:
       Completeness •  ' Number of Measurements Judged Valid  x 100%            (6)
                           Total Number of Measurements
Completeness for all measurements is 100%.

5.2 LIMITATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

        Based on  the above  quality assurance  data, the  results from  the  laboratory
analyses provide a good basis for drawing conclusions about waste reduction and pollution
prevention.
                                        54

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-------
TABLE 5-5. ACCURACY OF AIRBORNE METALS MEASUREMENTS
Sample
Number
Metal 5147-
Background




Metal 5148-
Primary




Metal 5149-
Replicate




Metal 5150-
Replicate




Metal 5151-
Field Blk 1




Metal 5152-
Field Blk 2




Metal

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Actual

100.00
98.06
96.70
99.21
99.52

100.00
100.00
99.53
98.42
98.55

102.04
103.79
103.81
103.65
103.47

101.03
102.90
104.29
101.18
105.31

102.04
87.68
96.19
103.04
105.45

101.00
100.97
100.47
98.22
100.00
Recovery (%)a
QA Objective

75-125
75-125
75 - 125
75-125
75-125

75 - 1 25
75-125
75-125
75 - 1 25
75-125

75-125
75- 125
75- 125
75 - 125
75-125

75- 125
75 - 1 25
75 - 125
75-125
75-125

75-125
75-125
75- 125
75-125
75 - 1 25

75-125
75- 125
75-125
75-125
75-125
Method Recovery (%)b

95.54
94.55
93.73
99.90
85.53

95.54
94.55
93.73
99.90
85.53

96.46
93.70
93,93
95.02
92.60

95.50
93.89
94.09
95.68
88.97

96.46
93.70
93.93
95.02
92.60

95.54
94.55
93.73
99.90
85.53
                       56

-------
       TABLE 5-5.  ACCURACY OF AIRBORNE METALS MEASUREMENTS (Continued)
Sample
Number
Metal 5153-
Primary




Metal 5154-
Replicate




Metal 5155-
Replicate




Metal 5156-
Field Blk 1




Metal 5157-
Field Blk 2




Recovery (%
Recovery {%)"
Metal

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn

Cd
Cr
Cu
Pb
Zn
j _ (Spiked Samole)
Actual

99.00
98.54
98.11
100.20
99.03

96.94
99.05
97.62
98.99
97.52

101.03
100.00
98.10
101.38
100.97

107.14
102.37
102.86
108.92
110.89

98.00
98.06
96.70
97.83
98.07
— (Reaular
QA Objective

75 - 1 25
75-125
75- 125
75-125
75-125

75-125
75- 125
75-125
75-125
75- 125

75-125
75 - 125
75-125
75-125
75-125

75- 125
75-125
75 - 125
75-125
75-125

75-125
75-125
75-125
75-125
75-125
Sample) „ mn%
Method Recovery (%)b

95.54
94.55
93.73
99.90
85.53

96.46
93.70
93.93
95.02
92.60

95.50
93.89
94.09
95.68
88.97

96.46
93.70
93.93
95.02
92.60

95.54
94.55
93.73
99.90
85.53

                          (Spike Added)
   Matrix spikes were accomplished  by spiking a known aliquot of metals of interest into the
   digested solution.                                                            .

Method Recovery (%)  =  (Method Standard)  - (Method Blank) x
                                (Pipet Standard)
                                        57

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           Most of the data  for the economic analysis were obtained from NASA/JSC and the
vendor's management.  Several assumptions made for the economic analysis have been discussed
in  Section  4.   Informed  assumptions were made only when hard data were absent.   These
assumptions are site-specific, and readers are encouraged to adjust them to their own cases.
                                          58

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                                        SECTION 6

                                       REFERENCES


 Atkins, D. C., Jr.  1989.  "Abrasive Blasting  Exposure  Study for Building 137,  NASA/Ellington
 Field," NASA/JSC Environmental Health Services Memorandum (by Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, P. A.
 Medical Support Services), NASA/JSC, Houston, TX, December 11.

 Atkins, D. C., Jr.  1992a.  "Airborne Metals  Exposure  Study, Bicarbonate Depainting, Building
 137A, Room  100  Cleaning Room,  NASA/Ellington  Field," Memorandum  from Deputy  Project
 Manager/SD23 to Technical Manager/SD26, NASA/JSC Environmental Health Services, March 18.

 Atkins, D. C., Jr.  1992b.  "Noise Study, Building 137, Room 100, Bicarbonate Soda  Depainting
 Operation, Strip  Shop, NASA/Ellington Field," Memorandum from Deputy Project Manager/SD23 to
 Technical Manager/SD26, NASA/JSC Environmental Health Services, March 6.

 Chen,  A.  S. C.   1991.   "A Bicarbonate of Soda Depainting  Study at Ellington Field,  Lyndon B.
 Johnson  Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, Texas,"  Quality
 Assurance Project Plan submitted to and approved by U.S. EPA.

 Church & Dwight Co.,  Inc.   1990.   "ARMEX Blast Media  Safety  Profiles:  Waste  Disposal,"
 Commercial Brochure, Princeton, NJ.

 City of Houston.  1989.  Industrial Waste Permit No. 1030.  Issued to NASA-Ellington Field, March


 Groshart,  E. 1988.  "The New World of Finishing," Metal Finishing. 33.

 Haas, M. N.  1991.  "Abrasive Paint Stripping with Bicarbonate of Soda: An Alternative  to Solvent
 Usage," presented at Waste Reduction Assessment and Technology Transfer Tele-Conf., Solvents:
 The Good, the Bad, and the Banned.

 Ignasiak,  M. F.  1991. "Turco Environmentally Acceptable  Stripper," Atochem North America, Inc.,
 Marion, OH.

 Lee, R. C. and  L. Kirschner.  1989.   "Accustrip: The Next Generation in  Nontoxic Low  Impact
 Stripping," SAE  Technical Paper  Series, No. 890920, 25th Annual Aerospace/Airline  Plating &
 Metal Finishing Forum & Exposition.  New Orleans, LA.

 McDonald, E. P.   1990.   "ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP° Process." Proc. of the 1990  DoD/lndustrv Adv.
 Coating Removal Conf.. Atlanta. GA. May 1-3.

 NASA/JSC.  1989. Memorandum from P. R.  Schleicher/CC2 to CC2 staff, January 14.

 OSHA. "Occupational Noise Exposure," 29 CFR, Chapter XVII, Section 1910.95.

 Singerman, H. H. 1991.   "Evaluation of Sodium Bicarbonate Blasting Technology,"  Letter  Report
from Commander, David Taylor  Research  Center  to Commander, Naval  Facilities Engineering
 Command (FAC 183), February 13.

                                           59

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Stropki, J.   1991.  "Comparative Evaluation  of Corrosion Resulting from B.O.S.S. and Chemical
Paint  Removal Processes,"  Proc. of the 1991  DoD/lndustrv Adv. Coating Removal  Conf.. San
Diego, CA, April 30-May 2.

Stumrn, W. and J. J. Morgan.  1989.  Aquatic Chemistry: An Introduction Emphasizing Chemical
Equilibrium in Natural Waters. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY.

U.S. EPA.  1987.  Preparation Aid for RREL's Category III Quality Assurance Project  Plans. U.S.
EPA, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati,  OH, June 22.

U.S. EPA.  1988.  Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment  Manual. EPA/625/7-88/003, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH.

U.S. EPA.  1991.   The 33/50 Program: Forging an  Alliance for Pollution  Prevention.  U.S.  EPA,
Special Projects Office (TS-792A), Office of Toxic Substances, Washington D.C.

Van Sciver, J. H.   1989.  "Aluminum Corrosion Study Electrochemical Tests," Proc. of the 1989
DoD/lndustrv Adv. Coatings  Removal Conf.. Ft. Walton Beach, FLf April 11-1 a.

Van  Sciver,  J. H.   1990.   "ARMEX®  Sodium Bicarbonate  Blast  Media  Integrity on  Aluminum
Surfaces," Proc. of the 1990 DoD/lndustrv Adv. Coating Removal Conf.. Atlanta, GA, May 1-3.

Van  Sciver,  J. H.   1991.  "ARMEX® Blast Media Metal  Surface  Stability,"  Proc. of the 1991
DoD/lndustrv Adv. Coating Removal Conf.. San Diego,  CA, April 30-May 2.

Williams, T.   1991.  "The  Effects of the ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP SYSTEM" on Fatigue Cracks  in
Alclad Aircraft Aluminum," Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Princeton,  NJ.
                                           60

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       APPENDIX A

  METHOD OF ASSESSING
ANODIZED SURFACE DAMAGE
           61

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               SPECIAL METHOD OF ASSESSING ANODIZED SURFACE DAMAGE
1.    Scope
     1.1    This is a special method for testing under the Waste Reduction Innovative Technology
            Evaluation (WRITE) Program to estimate anodized surface damage on aircraft wheels.

2.   Summary of Method

     2.1    This method measures the incidental  damage that wheels endure when their paint is
            stripped via bicarbonate of soda blasting.

3.   Significance and Use

     3.1    To a limited extent, this method  assesses the effectiveness  of stripping paint with
            bicarbonate of soda.

     3.2    This is a preliminary scoping test for use in the WRITE project evaluation of replacing
            conventional chemical stripper with bicarbonate of soda stripping.

4.   Terminology

     4.1    NDI  — Nondestructive inspection.  This is a method used to inspect unpainted aircraft
            parts for fatigue cracks and other signs of damage.

     4.2    Standoff distance — Distance form the nozzle to the surface to be stripped.

5.   Apparatus

     5.1    Two rear wheels from a T-38 aircraft.

     5.2    One ARMEX"/ACCUSTRIP™  sodium bicarbonate blast system, Model  16W.

     5.3    One camera with a close-range lens.

     5.4    Almigrip-brand polyurethane  primer and topcoat.

     5.5    Miscellaneous equipment for painting.

6.   Procedures

     6.1    Clean two rear wheels from a T-38 aircraft, using NASA standard procedures.

     6.2    Prepare the blast  system for operation  (see manufacturer instructions).   Media flow
            rate  should be 1-4 Ib/min at 40-60 psi pressure with a water flow rate of 0.5 gal/min.

     6.3    Hold the blast nozzle at a standoff distance of  12 to 24 inches and an impingement
            angle of 30 degrees. Completely strip the paint from one wheel.

     6.4    Photograph the stripped wheel with a  camera  equipped with a  close-range  lens.
            Distance from camera to wheel should be between 6 and 12 inches.

                                            62

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6.5   A team of three experienced NDI technicians should examine  the wheel and provide
      the data required in the data sheet (see Figure A-1).

6.6   Repaint the wheel, applying polyurethane primer and topcoat.  Allow at least 12 hours
      drying time.

6.7   Repeat steps 6.2 through 6.4.

6.8   The same  NDI technicians  from  step  6.5 should again examine the same wheel and
      record the data in the data sheet.

6.9   Repeat steps 6.2 through 6.8 for the second wheel.
                                      63

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Date:

Wheel number:

Media flow rate:

Stripping time:
FIGURE A-1. ANODIZED SURFACE DAMAGE DATA SHEET

   Time:                       Operator:

   Run number (circle):          One  Two

   Nozzle pressure:             Water flow rate:
1.  Is there any surface damage?

2.  If yes, is it anodized surface damage?

    Describe other damages: .	
                                                         Yes D    No D

                                                         Yes D    No D
3.  Is the anodized surface damage due primarily
    to mechanical  wear?
    Describe location, appearance, etc.:
                                                                           Yes D    No D
   ARM EX" blasting?

   Describe location, appearance, etc.:
                                                         Yes D    No D
   Other causes?

   Describe causes, location, appearance, etc.:
                                                        Yes D    No D
4.  If this is a second run, do you notice any
    differences between this and the
    previous inspection?
   If yes, describe it:
                                                        Yes D    No D
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
                                           64

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          APPENDIX B

THE EFFECTS OF ARMEX®/ACCUSTRIP
  SYSTEM" ON FATIGUE CRACKS IN
      ALCLAD TEST PANELS
              65

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                     THE EFFECTS OF THE ARMEX /ACCUSTRIP" SYSTEM
                   ON FATIGUE CRACKS IN ALCLAD AIRCRAFT ALUMINUM


    During the introduction of the Armex/Accustrip process as an alternate method of paint removal
for the Aviation Industry/ questions arose concerning  effects  of the process on fatigue cracks in
alclad aluminum.   The Aviation Industry has recently  begun  routinely stripping  airframes and
inspecting for fatigue  cracks in the skin of the aircraft.  The concern was that the Armex/Accustrip
system may deform the alclad coating and fill in or mask the cracks.

    In order  to  investigate these  concerns,  sixteen panels of A12024 T3  Alclad (.032") were
prepared according to ASTM E647 using a Krouse 5-KIP.DDS fatigue machine.  The cracks induced
were roughly 174-3/8" long and  all but invisible to the  naked eye.  The cracks were photographed
using a Scanning  Electron Microscope at 100X.  Eight of the  panels were then prepared and
painted  with mil. spec, epoxy primer and  polyurethane topcoat.  The panels were photographed
after conversion coating was  applied  and it was noted  that the conversion coating  application
partially filled in the cracks.  The panels were then blasted with Armex Blast Media at 50, 60, 70,
and 80  psi nozzle  pressure using a 60  deg. blast angle, 12"  stand off, and  3 #/min media flow.
Two panels were blasted at each pressure setting. The next phase of the test was a dye penetrant
examination of the  panels as per mil.  spec. 410.  In-all  cases the cracks  were readily identified
under ultraviolet light and photographed.  One panel, blasted at 80 psi, did show some distortion at
the end of the crack.  More importantly, eddy current inspection identified each crack readily.

    In conclusion, the findings of this test are that the Armex/Accustrip system does not impede
conventional  methods of fatigue  crack detection.   It should  be  noted that even  though the
application  of the chromate conversion  coating with scotchbrite  did partially mask the  crack from
visual detection the crack was still located using eddy current inspection.

    I would like to thank the  Quality  Assurance people at NASA's Ellington Field and Northrup
Worldwide  Aviation Services Inc.  for their assistance in the  preparation of the panels and Bell
Evaluation Labs for their assistance in the inspection of the panels.


                                          Tim  Williams
                                          Project Technician
                                          CDS Group
                                          Houston, Texas
                                             66

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Figure B-1.  Alclad panel  (#7 of 8) prior to painting.
    Figure B-2. Painted Alclad panel (#7 of 8).
                        67

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Figure B-3. Alclad panel (#7 of 8) after blasting with ARMEX* blast media at 80 psi.
                                     68

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          APPENDIX C

ICP CALIBRATION VERIFICATION AND
     ICP INTERFERENCE CHECK
              69

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TABLE C-2, ICP INTERFERENCE CHECK"
Metal
Al
Ba
Be
Cd
Ca
Cr
Co
Cu
Fe
Pb
Mg
Mn
Ni
Ag
V
Zn
a Interferen
b _
Recovery
True (mg/L)
500.0000
0.5000
0.5000
1 .0000
500.0000
0.500
0.500
0.500
200.000
1 .0000
500.0000
0.5000
1 .0000
1 .0000
0.5000
1.0000
ce check was ca
jo£) _ Actual
True
Initial
Actual (mg/L)
488.7000
0.4858
0.4794
0.9083
498.5000
0.4712
0.4432
0.4676
179.5000
0.9893
486.7000
0.4339
0.8704
0.9721
0.4883
0.9372
rried out before ar
x 100%
Check
Recovery1* (%
97.7
97.2
95.9
90.8
99.7
94.2
88.6
93.5
89.8
98.9
97.3
86.8
87.0
97.2
97.7
93.7
id after sample
Final
>) Actual (mg/L)
471.3000
0.4607
0.4601
0.8901
494.2000
0.4765
0.4375
0.4456
179.7000
1.0450
478.2000
0.4259
0.8685
0.9825
0.4884
0.9270
analyses.
Check
Recovery (%)
94.3
92.1
92.0
89.0
98.8
95.3
87.5
89.1
89.8
104.5
95.6
85.2
86.8
98.2
97.7
92.7

               71

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