RE: Smoke Sticks

[Bill Kendall <KENDALL@nucusa.com>]

When I worked in Industrial Hygiene we used to use titanium dioxide
solution.  We would dip the stick from a 6 inch cotton tipped applicator
into the solution, pull it out and hold it in the air stream.  The
non-toxic (in those days) smoke would render the air stream visible.  

In more recent years I have used commercially produced glass wands
containing the same or similar material.  The tubes are flame sealed and
are activated by breaking off both ende and blowing room air through the
tube with a rubber squeeze ball (one form a sphygmomanometer (blood
pressure cuff) works well.  Do NOT draw air back into the rubber ball.
Use a one way valve.

I have gotten tubes and kits from Mine Safety Appliance (aka MSA) and
Vallen Corp in Dallas, Tx.

Glad to see that someone else cares about the direction of airflow as a
means of control of the spread of contamination.

Representing myself

Bill Kendall 

-----Original Message-----
From: magnum8@banet.net [mailto:magnum8@banet.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 9:47 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: Smoke Sticks


A chrome plated (easily deconned) smoke gun and small cans of zinc
stearate can
be purchased through McMaster-Carr. Remember to request MSDS on the P.O.
Some
power reactor Chemistry depts. have initial mis-givings. However, I've
always
managed to get it approved (five or six different sites).

Representing myself,

Chris Wend, contract Rad Engr.


Ching, Jeff wrote:

> In my former life at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, we used zinc
stearate
> powder to test air flow patterns.  A special smoke gun was used (I
don't
> recall the manufacturer's name).  The powder was non-toxic and ok for
use in
> open primary systems.
>
> Jeff Ching      [ching.jeff@email.mcclellan.af.mil]
> McClellan Nuclear Radiation center
>
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