REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF FILM GATE FLUIDS AND FILM PROPERTIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A000400030034-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 16, 2001
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: October 1, 1964
• Content Type: MEMO

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1 October 196+
MEMORANDUM FOR: Development Branch, P&DS
THROUGH: Chief, Development Branch, P&DS
0
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SUBJECT: Request for Investigation of Film Gate Fluids and Film
Properties
1. Your memorandum of 22 September has been received and studied
by members of the Exploratory Development Laboratory Branch. Because of
the potentially enormous undertaking implicit in your request, I feel it
necessary to record a formal reply.
2. Your request for the investigation of the toxicity of Freon 113
has been anticipated. A Memorandum for the Record was released on
24 September 1964 which dealt with this problem. A copy
is attached to this memorandum for your information. Methyl chloroform
and similar substances are generators of phosgene gas under appropriate
conditions and should be considered potentially as dangerous. We believe
that fluid-gating is extremely hazardous under all conditions, that vapors
Bhould be processed through absorbers rather than simply vented, and that
a continuous analysis should be made of the air in the rooms containing
conditions which are conducive to poison gas generation. A copy of an
article describing a device for such analysis is also forwarded with this
memorandum. are currently preparing a
memorandum which states the Staff's position on the problem. In any event,
I do not consider it our responsibility to procure, operate and maintain
gas analyzers throughout the center -- not even the first one. All such
problems will be referred to procurement and building safety officials.
3. If Freon 113 liquid is removing the protective wax from the ON,
there is little purpose to our confirming it further. On the basis of
known solvent behavior, I would suspect it anyway. I would also expect
its spotty re-deposition on the film. Because of the probable chemical
changes, I would not expect the deposit to be the same kind of wax, nor to
provide the same protection. In view of development of 25X1A
the 10-20-40 Enlarger which operates with a gating fluid in contact with
the film, I strongly suspect that the information you require has been
carefully catalogued at- The cleaning and re-waxing of film is
also a problem of which should be well-informed, since they
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clean and re-wax the ON several times during the printing of
second-generation Positives. The development of a device for achieving
this, as an adjunct to a prototype chip printer, requires knowledge and
techniques well beyond the current capabilities of the EDL Branch. I
would strongly recommend that be contacted, and an 25X1A
arrangement under AL-14 be con e which would
You with the
information you require, and assist in the design and/or construction
of the necessary devices for cleaning and re-waxing, as well as
decontaminating, the film. The EDL Branch might have the capability of
undertaking such a design study in 1966, pending the fillin
required T/O. As it stands, nothin g
g of our
at this
positively time, even were your schedule relaxeddoublyin our favor.
4. In your fourth paragraph, a request is contained which is also
well beyond our current laboratory capabilities. We cannot yet
intensively evaluate photographic materials in terms of acutance,
dimensional stability, modulation transfer and resolving power in excess
of 228 lines/mm. The laboratory investigation of these properties would
employ our entire staff for months to come, had we the equipment and
techniques at our disposal. The source best equipped to provide the
information you require is the manufacturer, who maintains a large
laboratory for the express purposes of evaluating his product. The
procurement of such information is a matter of correspondence or
literature-searching. In lieu of this, entry to his information could be
made through the ubiquitous AL-l4, in which we possess an "in" beyond
calculating. In view of the scope of this request, a small PAR under
AL-14 would certainly seem to be in order. It would provide you with the
correct information, from the proper source, in the proper context.
Our laboratory's facilities are simply not at the stage of development to
adequately prosecute such a program.
5. This memorandum has in effect turned down your request
categorically. Whether or not I should apologize for this is difficult
to state. I offer you the solace of our services to help you in
ascertaining the information you require., in setting up the suggested
PAR, or in re-shaping the problem to fit the current EDL capabilities. I
suggest we pursue this matter in discussions, and leave the setting-up of
such a meeting to you.
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Attachments (
Distribution:
Original and 1 - Addressee
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