NASA has done extensive research into the outgassing of materials used in spacecraft. They are interested in how these chemicals affect the sensitive electronic and optical equipment—and, of course, the health of the astronauts. Because astronauts must perform many varied and detailed operations while on an extended mission, NASA is very concerned about impairment of function. An unhealthy atmosphere inside a spacecraft can mean the crew won’t be able to perform at peak efficiency.
NASA’s outgassing testing is done in a closed chamber in which individual items are heated to a temperature of 120°F for 72 hours. This causes the volatile gases to be released at an accelerated rate. The gases are then analyzed and quantified. Vacuum testing involves placing materials in a similar chamber where a vacuum actually sucks out the various volatile chemicals that would normally outgas at a much slower rate. Actual air samples taken during space flights are also analyzed. A typical computer printout will list a material’s name, the manufacturer, a generic description, testing data, and the chemicals that were outgassed, with amounts. As an example, one particular adhesive was found to give off the following gases:[2] Carbon monoxide, C5 saturated & unsaturated alpihatic hydrocarbons. Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, 2-butanone, Methanol, Methyl propionate, Methyl formulate, Benzene, Ethanol, Methyl isobutenate, 2-propanone, Methylbenzene, 2-propanol, Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane.
Obviously, there is a lot of valuable information in NASA’s database. However, much of it is useful only to the space program, because many of the materials tested are not available to the general public. However, many of the products we routinely build houses of simply cannot be used in a spacecraft because of excessive outgassing. Should this be food for thought?
[1] Haluk Ozkaynak and P. Barry Ryan, “Sources and emission rates of organic chemical vapors in homes and buildings” (Berlin: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality & Climate, Vol. 1, Volatile Organic Compounds, Combustion Gases, Particles and Fibers, Microbiological Agents, 1987): 3-7.
[2] MDAC-Houston Materials Testing Data Base, Report # 85-19534 01, (Tra Bond F113/F117-STEX), NASA computerized database.
(This article is from the archives of the original Healthy House Institute, and the information was believed accurate at the time of writing.)
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