Graphic: Contaminating fluids are common in all sorts of military environments. An accidental spill, leakage or application of certain cleaning agents could happen anytime. Make sure your rugged server is prepared.
Note: Trenton Systems is not a compliance testing facility. We manufacture rugged servers and workstations that conform to military and industrial standards, such as MIL-STD-810 and DO-160, and we can ensure that our systems comply with these standards using our in-house testing equipment, or by sending our systems to a third-party compliance testing laboratory for validation, but our facility does not offer compliance testing services for products manufactured outside of Trenton Systems. For a list of laboratories that can assist you with your testing needs, please read this blog post, which lists the best compliance testing laboratories in the world.
This is Part 7 in a series of the different test methods in MIL-STD-810H, the successor to MIL-STD-810G. View Part 6: Low Pressure (Altitude) Testing and Part 5: Humidity Testing.
A systems administrator for the U.S. military has just discovered that a MIL-STD-810 rugged server he introduced to a program earlier this year has endured irreparable damage to its chassis and motherboard.
Upon further investigation, he finds that the server has been intermittently exposed to hydraulic fluid and certain cleaning agents for the past 11 months. Unfortunately, the system was not salvageable, and he was forced to buy a brand-new server.
He knew beforehand that the server might be exposed to the aforementioned fluids but figured that it was rugged enough to endure; however, he didn't ask what specific MIL-STD-810 tests the server underwent before buying.
If the systems administrator had specifically asked his rugged server vendor to certify the server to MIL-STD-810's Test Method 504.3, Contamination by Fluids, the server would likely still be operational today.
According MIL-STD-810H, the latest iteration of the standard, the purpose of contamination by fluids testing, also known as Test Method 504.3 or fluid contamination testing, is to assess the effects that temporary exposure to certain liquids has on a system.
Test engineers usually test for this method if there is a high probability that a customer’s system will encounter accidental or intentional fluid contamination in the field. The results help them determine whether any product design changes need to be made to tailor the system to its service environment.
Regardless of whether exposure occasionally occurs, intermittently occurs or occurs over an extended period, certifying a system to Test Method 504.3 offers considerable protection from any contaminating fluids encountered or applied during a system’s life cycle.
Exposure of material to contaminating fluids may either temporarily or permanently impair the operation of the material by changing the physical properties of the materials composing it.
- Excerpt from MIL-STD-810H
In the field, fluid contamination may occur from exposure to fuels, hydraulic fluids, lubricating oils, solvents and cleaning agents, de-icing fluids and anti-freeze, runway deicers, insecticides, disinfectants, coolant, dielectric fluid and fire extinguishants.
It’s important to note that Test Method 504.3 does not assess the ability of a system to perform during continuous fluid exposure, nor does it test for electrolytic corrosion or corrosion due to human perspiration.
Photo: MIL-STD-810's Test Method 504.3 assesses occasional, intermittent and extended fluid contamination.
MIL-STD-810 fluid contamination testing has one testing procedure but three distinctive exposures: occasional contamination, intermittent contamination and extended contamination.
With occasional exposure, a system is exposed for 5-10 minutes at standard ambient conditions, unless a test temperature akin to that of the system’s real-world environment is specified.
With intermittent exposure, a system is continuously exposed for eight hours and left to air dry for 17 hours at standard ambient temperature.
With extended contamination, an item is continuously exposed for at least 24 hours. As with occasional exposure, standard ambient temperature is used unless otherwise specified, at which point the test item is kept in the specified temperature for eight hours before the temperature is changed to standard ambient for the remainder of the testing period.
A fluid contamination facility or setup should include an enclosure and temperature control mechanism designed to maintain test items at specified temperatures.
A system is placed into a tank within the enclosure and exposed to the selected contaminants. The chemicals are typically applied to the system by immersing, spraying or brushing, depending on the type of exposure.
Photo: Under MIL-STD-810, anything from cleaning agents to gasoline and hydraulic oil is used for fluid contamination testing.
MIL-STD-810 fluid contamination testing involves the application of common chemicals used regularly in military and industrial environments.
MIL-STD-810H lists 30 general test fluids for use with Test Method 504.3. These fluids include various lubricants, engine oil, gasoline, insect repellent, antifreeze, water, hydraulic fluids and damping fluids.
For a complete list of fluids, see Table 504.3-I in our MIL-STD-810H fluid contamination testing PDF linked at the beginning of this blog post.
There are various physical, chemical and electrical effects that contaminating fluids can have on a system.
Test Method 504.3 may be one of the easier, shorter MIL-STD-810 test methods to perform, but the consequences of fluid contamination are numerous and widespread.
Test engineers are encouraged to consider the following examples of potential damage when deciding whether fluid contamination testing is necessary:
Photo: When it comes to protecting your rugged server or workstation in harsh or risky environments, it's better to be safe than sorry. Always ask your rugged server manufacturer about the MIL-STD-810 tests a system has undergone before buying.
MIL-STD-810 contamination by fluids testing is a relatively short and simple method that can be used to protect your system from a variety of chemicals and solutions in the field.
Whether exposure is intentional or accidental, occasional, intermittent or prolonged, this test method has you covered.
Trenton Systems performs shock, vibration, temperature, and humidity testing on its rugged servers, blade servers, and workstations in-house, but we partner with local compliance testing facilities that can accommodate testing requests beyond our capabilities.