Ministry of Defence

Defence Standard 93-4

Issue 3 Publication Date 16 August 2002

Butyl Rubber, Type QX

 AMENDMENT RECORD

Amd No Date Text Affected Signature and Date

REVISION NOTE

This Standard has been revised to bring test methods and procedures into line with
up-to-date requirements.

In accordance with D Contracts (MOD) policy, Type Approval has been removed from this
standard and, following a risk-based assessment of the uses of this material with explosives,
replaced by Product Conformity Certification. As a result, requirements for compatibility
with explosives have been added.

HISTORICAL RECORD

This standard supersedes the following:

DCI Provisional SpecificationTS10007 dated 8 May 1968

Naval (CINC) Specification K 1491B dated 30June 1966
Defence Standard (Def Stan) 93-4 Issue 2 dated 15 October 1984
 DEF STAN 93-4/3

CONTENT

Description Page

Content 1
Preface 2
Main Text 3

SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1 Scope 3
2 Warning 3
3 Related Documents 3
4 Information to be Supplied by the Purchaser 4
5 Composition 5
6 Product Conformity Certification 5
7 Inspection during Processing 5
8 Containers and Marking of Containers 6

SECTION 2 TEST REQUIREMENTS

9 Test Samples 7
10 Testing 7
11 Finished Items 9

Table 1 Test Requirements 8

ANNEX A Compatibility with Explosives 10

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DEF STAN 93-4/3

PREFACE

Standards for Defence

Butyl rubber, Type QX

a. This standard provides requirements for butyl rubber, type QX

b. This standard has been produced on behalf of the Standards Advisory Group (SAG),
Rubbers, Plastics, Adhesives and Adhesive Tapes.

c. This standard has been agreed by the authorities concerned with its use and is
intended to be used whenever relevant in all future designs, contracts, orders etc. and
whenever practicable by amendment to those already in existence. If any difficulty arises
which prevents application of the Defence Standard, UK Defence Standardization (DStan)
shall be informed so that a remedy may be sought.

d. Any enquiries regarding this standard in relation to an invitation to tender or a

contract in which it is incorporated are to be addressed to the responsible technical or
supervising authority named in the invitation to tender or contract.

e. Compliance with this Defence Standard shall not in itself relieve any person from any
legal obligations imposed upon them.

f. This standard has been devised solely for the use of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
and its contractors in the execution of contracts for the MOD. To the extent permitted by
law, the MOD hereby excludes all liability whatsoever and howsoever arising (including,
but without limitation, liability resulting from negligence) for any loss or damage however
caused when the standard is used for any other purpose.

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 DEF STAN 93-4/3

TEXT

Standards for Defence

Butyl rubber, Type QX

SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1 SCOPE

1.1 This standard specifies requirements for four high quality butyl rubber mixes
designated IIR-QX followed by a number equal to the nominal hardness of the vulcanizate
as given in Table 1.

1.2 The mixes are suitable for production of vulcanized parts such as gaskets, sealing
rings, sheet tube and items cut or punched from sheet or tube, which are required to operate
within the approximate temperature range –45° to +100°C

1.3 The vulcanized mixes do not necessarily have good electrical properties.

1.4 The designation “Type QX” indicates that the material is suitable for certain
applications where a high degree of compatibility with explosives is a requirement.
However, compatibility with all explosives in all environments has not been established and
Design Authorities should seek advice on particular applications. Further information may
be obtained from Defence Standard 13-102; Testing of Materials which are Required to be
Compatible with Explosives.

2 WARNING

2.1 The Ministry of Defence (MOD), like its contractors, is subject to both United
Kingdom and European laws regarding Health and Safety at Work, without exemption. All
Defence Standards either directly or indirectly invoke the use of processes and procedures
that could be injurious to health if adequate precautions are not taken. Defence Standards
or their use in no way absolves users from complying with statutory and legal requirements
relating to Health and Safety at Work.

3 RELATED DOCUMENTS

3.1 The publications shown below are referred to in the text of this standard.
Publications are grouped and listed in alpha numeric order.

Designation Title

BP British Pharmacopoeia
BS 903 Physical testing of rubber
Part A1. Determination of density

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DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Part A2. Method for the determination of tensile stress-strain

properties
Part A19. Heat resistance and accelerated ageing tests
BS 3734 Rubber tolerances for products
Part1. Dimensional tolerances
BS 4181 Identification of rubber by infra-red spectrometry
Part1. Method for identification of hydrocarbon, chloroprene,
nitrile chlorosulphonated polyethylene rubbers
BS 7164 Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber
Part 10. Method for preparation and examination of water extract
BS EN 45014 General criteria for suppliers’ declaration of conformity
Def Stan 91-44 Lubricating Oil, General Purpose: Petroleum Light
Def Stan 93-50 General Requirements for the Quality Assurance of Fully
compounded Unvulacnised Rubber and Rubber Products
Def Stan 13-102 Testing of Materials which are Required to be Compatible with
Explosives

3.2 Reference in this standard to any related document means in any invitation to
tender or contract the edition and all amendments current at the date of such tender or
contract unless a specific edition is indicated.

3.3 In consideration of 3.2 above, users shall be fully aware of the issue and
amendment status of all related documents, particularly when forming part of an invitation
to tender or contract. Responsibility for the correct application of standards rests with
users.

3.4 DStan can advise regarding where related documents are obtained from. Requests
for such information can be made to the DStan Helpdesk. How to contact the Helpdesk is
shown on the outside rear cover of Defence Standards.

4 INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY THE PURCHASER

Where rubber items are to be used in contact with, or close proximity to, explosives, the
purchaser shall state clearly in the order the following requirements:

4.1 The explosive(s) with which the material shall be compatible.

4.2 Any other Product Conformity Certification requirements.

4.3 The drawing number for the fabricated item.

4.4 The material designation e.g. IIR-QX 60 to Defence Standard 93-4

4.5 Limitations, if any, in addition to the composition (clause 5), which are imposed to
satisfy the demands of a particular application

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 DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

5 COMPOSITION

5.1 The mix shall be based entirely on butyl rubber, reinforced with carbon black or a
mixture of blacks and vulcanised with sulphur /organic accelerator system activated with
stearic acid and zinc oxide. If necessary for processing, petroleum jelly, British
Pharmacopoeia (BP) grade, and/or mineral oil OM13 complying with DEF STAN 91-44
may be used in the mix but the amount shall not exceed 6 parts for grades 50 and 60 and 10
parts for grades 70 and 80 by mass per hundred parts of rubber (phr). No reclaimed or
ground vulcanised rubber shall be used . No ingredient other then those permitted in this
clause shall be incorporated and the choice is restricted as follows:

5.1.1 Butyl Rubber. Isobutene-isoprene copolymer containing 1.5 to 2.0 isoprene units
per 100 monomer units (mole percent unsaturation).

5.1.2 Organic Accelerators. A mixture of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) in an

amount not exceeding 1phr and tetramethylthiuram disulphide (TMTD) in an amount not
exceeding 1.5phr.

5.1.3 Sulfur in an amount not exceeding 1.5phr. The sulfur may be a type, which has
been treated with a small amount of magnesium carbonate or magnesia to promote
dispersion. No other type of treated sulfur is acceptable.

5.1.4 All ingredients shall be of recognised rubber compounding quality, and they shall
be uniformly dispersed in the mix so that the vulcanizate is homogenous.

5.1.5 The vulcanizate shall be free from bloom be shall comply with all the test
requirements of this standard.

6 PRODUCT CONFORMITY CERTIFICATION

6.1 The supplier shall submit evidence that the material complies with clause 5 and the
test requirements of clause 7.

6.2 Alternatively, and with the agreement of the purchaser, the contractor shall submit
a declaration of conformity that the product complies with all requirements of the standard,
including any explosive compatibility testing. A suitable format for the declaration of
conformity is given in BS EN 45014.

7 INSPECTION DURING PROCESSING

Compliance with the relevant requirements of Def Stan 93-50 shall be confirmed by
inspection during processing of the vulcanized mix and in the manufacture of items.

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DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

8 CONTAINERS AND MARKING OF CONTAINERS

8.1 The material shall be supplied in sound, clean, dry containers suitable for the
product and in accordance with the requirements of the contract or order. The use of
contaminated containers may render the whole consignment liable to rejection. After filling,
each container shall be securely closed.

8.2 It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to mark containers in accordance with any

legal requirements, in addition, the containers shall be legibly and durably marked with the
following details:

a. Designation: Butyl rubber: Type QX, including drawing number (if

applicable)
b. Defence Standard number: Def Stan 93-4/3 (and grade)
c. Contact or order number
d. Distinctive lot and/or batch number
e. Amount of contents
f. Quantity of manufacture/Date of cure (for items)
g. Manufacturer’s name, initials or recognized trade mark, and if applicable,
h. Any other markings called for in the contract or order.

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 DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 2 TEST REQUIREMENTS

9 TEST SAMPLES

9.1 Rubber Mixes. A test sheet as described in Def Stan 93-50 shall be prepared from
each batch of material, under the manufacturer’s recommended curing conditions.

9.2 Rubber Items. During production, samples representative of each type of item
shall be selected from each lot of items. A sample shall consist of a sufficient number of
items that will enable tests to be carried out to verify that the state of cure is satisfactory.

9.2.1 In the case of press cures, one sample per production lot of each item shall
normally be taken.

9.2.2 For steam pan or oven cures, one sample per curing cycle shall normally be taken.

10 TESTING

10.1 Physical Tests: Standard Test Sheets

10.1.1 Test pieces cut from the sample test sheets, prepared as described in 6.1, when
tested by the method specified, shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1

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DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 2 TEST REQUIREMENTS

Table 1 Test Requirements

Test Property Requirement Method

IIR- IIR- IIR- IIR-
QX50 QX60 QX70 QX80
1 Hardness (IRHD) 50 +−54 60 +−54 70 +−54 80 +−54 Def Stan 93-50

2 Density (Mgm-3) ±0.02 agreed value BS903 Part A1 method A

3 Tensile strength 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5
(MPa) min min min min BS903 Part A2; type2
4 Elongation @ 450 400 350 250 dumbbells
break (%) max max max max
5 Compression set 25 25 25 25 Def Stan 93-50
(%), 24h @ 70°C max max max max
6 Resistance to heat ageing, 72 h @100°C (maximum BS 903: Part A19
permitted change):-
6.1 Hardness (IRHD) 0 to 0 to 0 to 0 to Def Stan 93-50
+5 +5 +5 +5
6.2 Tensile strength -20 -20 -20 -20
(% change) BS903 Part A2; type2
6.3 Elongation @ dumbbells
-30 -30 -30 -30
break (% change)
7 pH of water 5.0 to 5.0 to 5.0 to 5.0 to
BS 7164 Part 10
extract 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5
8 Compatibility
Shall be compatible Annex A
with explosives

10.2 Physical Tests; Rubber Items. Sample items, taken as described in 9.2, shall be
tested, having regard to the thickness and surface finish of the items and whether standard
test pieces can be obtained from them as agreed with the purchaser. Where physical tests
not complying with the appropriate test methods given in Table 1 are carried out, the
requirements for the results of such tests shall be agreed with the purchaser and/or the
responsible Technical or Supervising Authority.

10.3 Chemical Tests. Chemical analysis may be carried out on the rubber mix , the
sample test sheets, or sample items, as practicable, to verify that the composition is
essentially in accordance with clause 5. The methods described in BS 7164 and BS 4181
shall be used as appropriate.

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 DEF STAN 93-4/3

SECTION 2 TEST REQUIREMENTS

10.4 Special Tests; Rubber Items. Sample items shall be tested in accordance with the
requirements of the drawing or standard for the particular item.

11 FINISHED ITEMS

11.1 Freedom from Defects. Finished rubber items shall be free from surface
imperfections, porosity, voids, inclusions, flow marks, excessive grain in calendered sheet
and other defects, which would impair satisfactory performance. Surface finish shall be
smooth moulded unless otherwise stated in the relevant drawing, contract or order, e.g.
calendered sheet may be specified with shallow cloth marking on one or both faces.

11.2 Dimensions. The dimensions and tolerances of the finished items shall be as stated
in the relevant drawing, contract or order. Methods of measurement of dimensions shall be
in accordance with BS 3734 unless otherwise stated.

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DEF STAN 93-4/3

ANNEX A

COMPATIBILITY WITH EXPLOSIVES

A.1 General

The explosive(s) with which the material shall be compatible are to be stated by the
purchaser in the order (see 4.1). The methods of test and the laboratory undertaking the
tests shall be agreed with the purchaser.

NOTE: The MOD Authority for the interpretation of test results, whether produced by the
manufacturer or by a third party is the Defence Ordnance Safety Group, Science and
Technology Division, Ash 2b, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH.

A.2 Frequency of Test

A.2.1 Whenever possible, the compatibility tests shall be undertaken on the batch
supplied (see Def Stan 13-102, Category 3 materials). With the agreement of the purchaser,
the supplier may submit results from compatibility tests conducted on another batch as
evidence supporting Product Conformity Certification. The supplier shall confirm that the
batch supplied has the same composition and was manufactured by the same process, at the
same location, as the batch tested.

A.2.3 The compatibility of the material shall be tested whenever a change is made to the
manufacturing process, the manufacturing location or the composition, or when requested
by the purchaser.

A.2.4 At all times, any material supplied shall be compatible with the explosives
specified by the purchaser.

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File Reference

The DStan file reference relating to work on this standard is D/DStan/93/4.

Contract Requirements

When Defence Standards are incorporated into contracts users are responsible for their correct
application and for complying with contractual and statutory requirements. Compliance with
a Defence Standard does not in itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Revision of Defence Standards

Defence Standards are revised as necessary by up issue or amendment. It is important that

users of Defence Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest issue or
amendment. Information on all Defence Standards is contained in Def Stan 00-00 Standards
for Defence Part 3 , Index of Standards for Defence Procurement Section 4 ‘Index of Defence
Standards and Defence Specifications’ published annually and supplemented regularly by
Standards in Defence News (SID News). Any person who, when making use of a Defence
Standard encounters an inaccuracy or ambiguity is requested to notify the Directorate of
Standardization (DStan) without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and
appropriate action taken.