LETTER TO (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2011
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: November 23, 1954
• Content Type: LETTER

HF~;pdw
November 23, 1954
Recently a representative of your office visited the Reservation
to discuss the packaging program and indicated that he wished to investigate
the feasibility of protecting certain items with a plastic coating similar to
that marketed as "Peel Seal" i.n both the bare and unit pack condition.
Inunediately after. being subjected to the hot dip, the items are to be tested
for functioning. In addition, the units are to be tested for functioning
after undergoing engineering tests and after being subjected to long term
storage at various conditions. Also, where possible, the items are to be
allowed to come to the temperature conditions of the bath to ascertain what
effect this would have on them. It was agreed that we would submit to your
office a test agenda for each item with a cost estimate for the program.
Attached please find suggested test programs for the items to be tested.
To complete the program including fee and administrative costs, it
is believed that no more than X4,000 would be required. At the completion of
any one phase of the program, letter reports would be submitted to your office.
At the completion of an entire program, a formal report would be submitted.
If, however, it appears that compilation of a final report would require two
weeks or less, the letter report would be delayed to accomplish this.
idaturally, if anything of a critical nature should arise during the test,
it will be transmitted to you immediately.
If any of the above does not meet with your approval, please notify
us at your earliest possible convenience.
Very truly yours,
Attachment ~1 `~~~?~T
cc: H. M. Anderson
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
25X1
I
I
25X1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
To: Luther Arastin (2)
B. L. Kreidl (1)
H. M. Anderson (1
File (1
Case: 5942a Date: November 23, 1954 Page 1
Subject: Suggested procedures for Hot Dipping.
Outlined belox please find suggested procedures for hot dipping and
subsequent testing of various items. These are based on experience gained
here during the past involving similar operations xith rockets, C-14, and
various types of ammunition. It has been suggested that each item be treated
not only in the unit pack bat in the unwrapped state. Naturally, some units
due to their inherent properties do not lend themselves to this approach and
Por that reason it xill be noted that several units are suggested for testing
in the xrapped condition only. From a practical standpoint it is felt that
consideration should not be given to the storage of single units after coating
since it would be far less expensive to dip unit packs for storage. However,
Yor information as to the functioning of the unit when sub3eeted to those
conditions, tests are suggested where they apply. The advisAbility of alloxing
;; ,; all units tg remain in the bath until they come to temperature conditions
?f,Q~,~;,325 to 350 F) is questioned depending upon the item. As en example - if an
+explosive item were sub3eeted to these conditions, there is a possibility that
a detonation might occur thereby destroying the apparatus and endangering
personnel. In cases where there is no Banger of detonation, this. procedure
can be adopted if it is deemed that valuable information will be glbtained.
After dipping, .the units s ould be tested for functioni~lg~ subjected
functional testin
and tested after a lon
to climatic tests followed b
g,
y
g
period of storage. These procedures are taken np more fully below: ~ ~~/' ~~~ ~ ~~ ~~
~ _ - . ~s~; ... . ,. ,, . a - - - ~ - _. 1 r.. .,~ .,aa Jc' ~'~~
o
r_'_ _ .__- ., -
~~ ~- (~" vi"7L'kY i Irt.~ v ~Y o-o' T C>' I?~r'? wUS ? e.~vvi~r -
RR tor~Sed~o be dipped in the
(1) RR Toraedo. It i~i suggested that th
`
,,~~' ;~` wait pack only since if dipped in the unxrapped eondition~great difficulty
~" \^~,-~ xould be encountered in freeing the wait of the plastic material. Five units
" " foil bag,,atid the bag being evacuated and sealed. Several such packs should then
L~
l'
be s+ab~?cted to a double dip in the plastic material. They should be tested
'' for functioning immediately after dipping, after accelerated aging, and after
igloo storage. The Criterion for satisfactory Functioning would be the success-
ful detonation of a Corps of ~hgineers special non-electric detonato when a
ten-pound weight was alloxed to fall on the dome through a distance of 3?".
. At least five successive samples should satisfactorily complete the test before
it was deemed satisfactory.
w_ 5 ~
From H. F. Knight
........................................................................
FOAM NO. 101 L `~U ~ I''-"~ ~ll \~F {1'~ f~ II ~Ll~uY ~? ~-Lil Py ~nC..
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
~~ (2) C-3 and C-4. Due to the chemical composition of C-3 and C-4, ao
attempt should be made to hot dip the material as such. Prior to any dipping
~~ it should be wrapped in kitchen-type waxed paper over-wrapped with grease-
~-59422 - z -
November 23, 1954
and inserted in a metal foil bag. The bag after evacuation
a~ heat sea?~g~would receive a preliminary dip resulting in a thin coating
followed by a second dip, care being taken that no air pockets resulted from
~ either operation. The material should then be subjected to visual inspection,
plasticity, and tested for high order detonation with one Corps of Engineers
~? ?b ~~ special electric detonator immediately after dipping.
~ ~J
~~ ~ ~..
~ l~
~~~ would be the successful firing of five or more successive lengths with one Corps
~
q
~` of IIzgineers special detonator. If after this procedure any obvious damage
~'~ ~ ,~' occurred to_ the material or if it failed to f~mction satisfactorily, it should
~ ~ ~ be packaged in a metal foil bag and the procedure repeated.
~ ~1 ?`~
`~ ;~ (4) Time Fuse. In a similar manner as with the prima cord, the time fuse
'~~~should be dipped in the unwrapped condition and tested for satisfactory functioning
~. ~ ~. immediately after dipping, after accelerated aging, and after igloo storage. The
~. ~ v}
~ ,~ ~ criterion for satisfactory functioning would be the successful ignition and
~ q ,.,~;~;~barning of the time fuse when fitted with a standard untreated fuse lighter. At
?-least Five successive samples should ignite and barn before the functioning
~ ~~~wou].d be deemed satisfactory. If any obvious damage occurred or if the material
?~ ~ }failed, it should be placed in a metal foil bag, the bag beieag evacuated and
? ~ ~~sea ed and the testa re ated.
~o `` ~ ~ ~
(3) Prima Cord. This material should be dipped in the unwrapped condition
tito determine iP the plastic would damage the cord. It should be~visually
ignition by the fuse lighters of five or more pieces of mistreated time fuses.
(5) P1~se Li tars. The fuse lighters should not be dipped in the unwrapped
condition but should be placed in a metal foil bag, the bag evacuated and sealed
followed by two dips in the plastic material. The items should be tested for
functioning immediately after dipping, after accelerated aging, and after igloo
storage. The criterion of satisfactory fuunctioning would be the aueeesatul
~~ Fay ~ ~v~ rvciseL l.nc~aiar_v. .since tine unit pacx or rise poexet incendiary
~, ~ ~ consists of two limits sealed in a metgl can, it is felt that no test need be ran
~
;~L
~ ,'~~ _~e unit itself or__on.~the ~it pack. Howev?r, if information as to the
, ~5 funct on g of the ime pencil after such a procedure is required, these units;
~
r
~
could be tested as
a sepa
ate items Pri t dii thilhuld ~
.oroppng,e pencs so!~
6~~~
; ~~ ~ ~ Y?
~?~S b~~ ~ ~?~ ads ~ y~ ~ ~, ~~.~: ~
~~
~
r~
,, ,
~~~~~~~J~~~~ =' ~,
inspected and tested for high order detonation with one Corps of II~gineers special
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8
~~ (~ " ,'f 1 ~ 1, ,-~ ~ ~ ~--,
~ AA
~1.~~i'.~:.' 'J.
C-59422 - 3 - November 23, 195k
wrapped with tape in such a manner so as?to prevent the plastic material from
entering the view ports and through the recesses required by the safety pin.
After dipping, the items should be tested for ftinctioning immediately after the
dipping. Satisfactory functioning would involve the successful ignition of th?
match head by the firing pin after the ampoule was crashed in five successive
attempts. If malflmcti,oning occurred, the pencil could be further protected
by including it in a plastic or metal foil bag and the tests repeated.
(7) Thermit We~7.. This emit should not be dipped in the unwrapped
~ , condition since the intimate contact of the wau with the plastic would strip
-- the protective coating from the unit3 The item should be placed in a metal
foil bag, the bag evacua ea ~ sa esied. After double dipping the unit should
~1 be tested for functioning f.mmediately following the dip, after--accelerated
~~ ag3~.g.~ The criterion for successful f'uractioning would be the ability of the
to penetrate 3/4" of mild steel five successive times when activated by
the fuse lighters.
~, (8) Head Delay Incendiary. This unit could be dipped 3n the unwrapped
condition and tested immediately after dipping, after accelerated aging.
~ Satisfactory functioning would entail the successful ignition of five successive
~'~iinits ~rhen fitted with A. C. Delays. If arty malftimctioning occurred or if any
damage was noted from the dip, it should be packaged in metal foil bags and the
~~ procedure repeated.
~~ ~~~~' G~c~~ ~~,~~
Small Arms~?Ammuait~n and Rocket Incendia
(9)
-
ry, Adat~ter. More information
regarding the unit pack is required for these two it~5es before any test procedure
nn~n lao aHernm~+nd _ . !~~
~ V ~~
`? ~ ~'
HFK/mae ~,~ ~~
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/04 :CIA-RDP78-03642A000500010089-8