Aerosol Containers Research Articles

Methods of manufacture and innovations in steel aerosol cans’ production

The production of aerosols has had a significant position in the industry for many years. We use aerosol products almost every day for very different purposes. The aerosol industry growth very dynamically, the shapes and the materials of the containers are changing, but the main principle remains the same – “aerosol dispenser shall mean any non-reusable container made of metal, glass or plastic and containing a gas compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure, with or without a liquid, paste or powder, and fitted with a release device allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas, as a foam, paste or powder or in a liquid state”. The purpose of this article is to present the methods of aerosols’ steel can manufacture together with the changes that have been made over the last century. Since the beginning of aerosol industry metal is the main material from which aerosol containers are made of, and steel is one of the most popular raw materials, the main law requirements regarding aerosol containers made of steel will be analysed. As the consequence of these analyses, the future possible development directions will be shown.

Creation of aerosolized detergent compositions for cleaning high-precision metal mirrors

We report on a studies on the possibility of extending the service life of products of non-ferrous metals by physical and chemical treatments with specially created azeotropic compositions. These studies were carried out on high-precision copper mirrors for high-power CO2 lasers, exposed during operation to different climatic influences, worsening of their operational characteristics. The results obtained in this paper can be applicable for physical and chemical cleaning of such mirrors and other high-precision parts from non-ferrous metals. The work is devoted to the creation of aerosol detergent compositions intended for use during the operation of mirrors in the field climatic conditions. It is shown that when aluminium and tin-plate aerosol containers are used, compositions that are used to clean metal mirrors should not contain chlorine-substituted hydrocarbons or even “traces” of water and hydroxyl ions. In addition to copper mirrors, optical elements made of other materials were also studied in this work.

Circumferential Catastrophic Burst Failures of Pressurized Cylinders

Complete circumferential (360°) tearing has been observed at the bottom of body walls in a number of three-piece, steel, cylindrical aerosol containers. This type of failure has not been well documented and analyzed in previous aerosol can failure analysis literature. In one instance, a worker accidentally dropped an aerosol spray paint can, and it instantly burst via catastrophic 360° circumferential failure near the bottom of the body wall. This was a relatively low-pressure, low-temperature, nearly instantaneous fracture. The burst aerosol became a high-velocity rocket and impacted the worker in the face and caused the loss of one eye. Other similar incidents involving this same failure mechanism have occurred with varying degrees of injury. The objective of this study was to determine why the aerosols catastrophically burst in the 360° circumferential manner and, more importantly, to find a remedy and prevent future failures. Test methods were developed to quantitatively control the force and angle of impact that might result from the tapping, hitting, or accidental dropping of an aerosol container. More common failure analysis methods were also used, such as metallography, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, simple bending tests to simulate low-cycle fatigue, and a method to measure internal aerosol pressure as a function of temperature. The most likely root cause for the 360° burst failures was determined to be a combination of pre-existing circumferential flaw or flaws, the anisotropic microstructure of the aerosol body steel and above yield stress that is facilitated by the geometry of the body-to-bottom design when the aerosol is tapped, hit, or accidentally dropped. Experiments show that changing microstructure and/or design significantly reduce the likelihood of this failure mechanism and offer simple, cost-effective remedies.

Measuring and Improving the Puncture Resistance of Self-Pressurized Containers

When self-pressurized containers, or aerosols, are accidentally dropped they are susceptible to puncture. The likelihood of puncture depends on the distance of the fall, the nature of the object that the aerosol might strike, the orientation of the impact, and the aerosol’s materials of construction, including microstructure. Due to the flammable nature of the propellants common to aerosols as well as other flammable contents, the accidental puncture of an aerosol has on occasion resulted in significant personal injury and property damage. While the Department of Transportation regulates several aspects of aerosol containers, there are no government regulations concerning puncture resistance. Likewise, there are no standard tests for the puncture resistance of aerosol containers. This article presents two different test methods that can be used to quantify the puncture resistance of aerosol containers. One mode of puncture is not a pure puncture, but rather an impact-induced circumferential puncture or crack. This is due to the anisotropic microstructure of the body material of most 3-piece steel aerosol containers. Experimental testing has shown that the most common type of aerosol container is highly vulnerable to impact-induced impact circumferential puncture. Free falls from a little as 20.32 cm (8 in.) onto wood pyramids are able to induce this type of puncture. This is a hidden and unexpected vulnerability inherent in most 3-piece steel aerosol containers. Experimental tests show that this susceptibility to impact-induced circumferential puncture as well as pure puncture can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated, by using container bodies with more isotropic microstructures.

The interaction of test methods and failure criteria

A specific example is given in which test methods influence the ability of a component to meet a failure criterion. The example is for self-pressurized products such as aerosol containers. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates aerosol containers with respect to acceptable temperatures and pressures of their contents as well as the minimum burst pressures of the containers. Experiments have shown that the burst pressures of the containers are a function of the test methods used to measure the burst pressures. The paper also presents a method to determine the temperature at which a two-piece aerosol container burst, provided that the bottom of the container can be found and it is not severely deformed by impact. While focusing on the specific examples of aerosols, the broader issue is the relationship between test methods and the results achieved, with the ultimate goal of safer engineering outcomes. The nature of various test methods and their relationships to how a mechanical system is likely to stop functioning properly and safely are also discussed. Aerosols present an interesting case study because they involve several disciplines and concepts and are very familiar to most people.

Failure analysis of aerosol containers

This paper presents a continuation of an open public discussion about the failure analysis of a relatively simple mechanical device: the three-piece steel aerosol container. In the June 2003 issue of Practical Failure Analysis, M. Fox and R. Hastings published a paper on the failure of aerosol containers. In August 2004, R.C. Daehn and J.J. Blum published a paper in the Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention that was critical of the Fox-Hastings article. The present manuscript addresses some of the criticisms of the June 2003 paper, using the methods of the August 2004 paper. Also discussed is the fact that not many things are manufactured perfectly 100% of the time and the observation that quality-assurance tests do not always represent failure mechanisms in the real world.

Health and safety issues in post-consumer aerosol container recycling

Post-consumer aerosol cans are being recovered for recycling through material reclamation facilities (MRFs). This paper reviews current practice on the basis of the published reports and the experience of MRFs. The general conclusion of the risk assessments reviewed is that although potential hazards arise from flammable or harmful residual contents, empty aerosol containers may be included in the domestic post-consumer waste recycling stream provided a number of basic precautions are taken to control risks to an acceptable level. Principle amongst these precautions is that only empty aerosols derived from the domestic waste stream should be handled by a MRF and these should not be segregated from the steel and aluminium streams.

Pituitary adenomas in a cosmetics factory.

We report three cases of acromegalic patients with growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary adenomas (plasma GH values ranging from 100 to 185 ng/ml), diagnosed at the endocrinological unit of the Univer sity of Torino, who worked in a cosmetics factory in northern Italy. In all patients the diagnosis was confirmed after surgery by histological, immuno cytochemical, and ultrastructural analysis. The factory has been operating since 1958 and comprises a base chemicals and intermediates ware house, departments for compounding, packaging, and shipping finished products, and an analytical lab oratory. The factory produces cosmetics such as creams, perfumes, colours, powders, make up creams, soaps, shampoos, lotions, lacquers, permanent wave lotions, hair dyes, bleaches, and nail varnishes. In the compounding department base chemicals and intermediates are mixed; the finished products are piped into the automatic packaging lines in the pack aging department, where filling into the appropriate container is performed, followed by capping, label ling, bag closing, box forming, etc. In the lacquer packaging lines propellents are added into the pres surised aerosol containers by injecting them through the cap valve. In the past hand packaging was fre quent. Maintenance is performed by a maintenance staff and also by workers of the different departments. At present the factory employs 387 subjects (clerks: 76 men, 71 women; blue collar workers and technical staff members: 110 men, 130 women) but a larger workforce was employed in the past?for instance, in 1970 there were 890 employees (73, 99; 236, 482 respectively. Allowing for a 10% turnover of the workforce a year, it can be estimated that the person years of observation cumulated between 1958 and 1985 are 28 000 (2450, 3250; 7500, 14800 respec tively). Since we do not know the number of employ ees between 1958 and 1969, we assumed that the workforce was that of 1970 over the whole period, although we know that it had slowly increased from an initial 100 employees in 1958. The figure of 28000 person-years is likely, therefore, to be an over estimate. We have no age specific data but, due to the young age at employment of subjects, most of the person

Analysis of the Variance Components in a Pharmaceutical Aerosol Product: Lodoxamide Tromethamine

The contributions of several components to the variance in lodoxamide delivery from lodoxamide tromethamine metered-dose aerosol containers have been estimated. Two aerosol lots, manufactured with mean diameters of 2.3 and 7.2 μm, exhibited approximately equal variances. The variance was apportioned to the following components: container-to-container, 27%; mouthpiece-to-mouthpiece 18%; valve-to-valve, 11%; assay, 6%. The largest single contribution to the variance (38%) is attributed to unassignable variations which include within-container variations in the dose; quality improvement efforts should concentrate on this area. Little effort should be expended to minimize the assay, valve delivery, or mouthpiece variation as their contribution to lodoxamide dose variation is small. Likewise, the bulk drug particle size did not contribute appreciably to within-lot dose variation.

Gelatin-based sprayable foam as a skin substitute.

Physical and antimicrobial properties of a newly developed gelatin based spray-on foam bandage for use on skin wounds have been evaluated. The aqueous foam is sprayed from aerosol containers and effectively covers and washes uneven wound surfaces. The foam dries to form an adherent and stable three-dimensional matrix which diminishes evaporative water losses. The foam possesses antimicrobial activity against gram-positive, gram-negative, and fungal contaminants.

Nitrous oxide availability.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is marketed as an inhalation anesthetic and as a food ingredient (e.g., whipping cream propellant). In the human, inhalation has been associated with "highs," peripheral nerve damage, mitotic poisoning of bone marrow, psychosis, and mental impairment. Exposure to hypoxemic mixtures has resulted in death. The commercial N2O sources specifically studied were aerosol whipping cream containers (three brands) and 6.5-cm cylinders, or chargers (two brands). The gas content and N2O concentrations of these devices were measured. The aerosol cans, when not shaken, will dispense at least 3 liters of 87 to 90% N2O. Charger misuse may occur when they are substituted for identically designed carbon dioxide (CO2) chargers of a seltzer bottle; 4.3 to 5.0 liters of 93 to 98% N2O is expelled at a controllable rate. The toxicity of these inexpensive N2O products, their high potential for misuse, and the absence of labeling (chargers) argue that their distribution be discontinued.

Versatile Electrochemical Cell for Studying Corrosion in Aerosol Containers

Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation RONALD B. DIEGLE; Versatile Electrochemical Cell for Studying Corrosion in Aerosol Containers. CORROSION 1 July 1979; 35 (7): 329–330. doi: https://doi.org/10.5006/0010-9312-35.7.329 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest Search

Aerosol containers for lowering the microbial content of air during respiratory viral infections

Under domestic conditions, aerosol containers containing deodorants can be used for this purpose. The present work deals with the study of the virucidal properties of aerosols of these compounds. It can be assumed that the removal of the microbial sources from the air will be related to be biocidal action of biologically active compounds, a more intense coagulation of the aerosols, and subsequent settling of the particles. As deodorants, glycols (propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and their mixtures) are most widely used. Special odorants (aromatized fumigant substances) are present in the aerosol containers together with them.

Development of an aerosol dosage form containing insulin.

An aerosol dosage form containing insulin was developed by suspending insulin zinc crystals in fluorocarbon propellant and using oleyl alcohol to improve the insulin suspension and to prevent valve clogging. A metered valve was used to control the amount of insulin delivered per actuation. The dose dispensed, sedimentation rate, and particle-size distribution of the aerosol formulation were evaluated. The potency of the insulin delivered from the aerosol containers stored at various temperatures and time intervals was determined using a radioimmunoassay. Based upon preliminary stability data, which were treated kinetically, it was noted that insulin aerosols stored in a refrigerator at 7 degrees would have a predicted shelflife of approximately 19 years, whereas samples stored at 25 and 37 degrees would have shelflives of 11 and 2 months, respectively. Long-term stability studies are indicated to establish this conclusion. On the basis of this study, it was concluded that an insulin-containing aerosol dosage form can be formulated and that a suitable dose of insulin can be dispensed using commercially available metered dose valves. The actual dose of insulin dispensed would have to be related to the degree of absorption of insulin one would normally expect when insulin is administered by the inhalation route.

Corrosivity of Pressurized Liquids in Aerosol Cans

Abstract The complex corrosion mechanisms for pressurized aqueous solutions in contact with various aerosol containers were studied electrochemically. A pressurized corrosion cell consisting of an aerosol container serving as the working electrode, a platinum rod serving as a hybrid reference-counter electrode, and the pressurized liquids as the electrolyte was designed and fabricated. The correlation of the results between two accelerated electrochemical corrosion tests, namely the galvanostatic polarization test and a 24-hour accelerated constant polarization potential test, and a 10-week storage test, was excellent. It was found that the addition of 0.1%disodium phosphate (DSP) to the aqueous solutions pressurized with a 10% isobutane-propane propellent blend changed the color of the systems to colorless, produced an electrodeposition of colloidal particles, and shifted the site of the crevice corrosion from the bulk-stagnant interface towards the stagnant area. Three distinct and characteristic zones of the polarization potential responses were observed during the anodic galvanostatic polarization measurements, and their mechanisms are discussed.

Defining the color of coatings on glass aerosol containers

Defining the color of coatings on glass aerosol containers

The coating of glass aerosol containers with protective films

The coating of glass aerosol containers with protective films

Bacterial Quality of some Dessert Toppings

One hundred and twenty-five imitation dairy toppings and forty real dairy toppings were examined for total place psychrotrophic, coliform and enterococci counts, and for the incidence of staphylococci and salmonellae. All samples were free of salmonellae and coagulase positive staphylococci. Five (3.03%) of the 165 samples had a total plate count of >1000/g. The psychrotrophic count for all samples averaged <10/g. Twelve percent of the samples were contaminated with eoliforms and 11.5% with enterococci. A comparison of aerosol containers of imitation dairy topping revealed that 5.0% of the imitation dairy topping samples were coliform positive as opposed to 0.0% of the real dairy toppings. In addition 30% of the imitation samples contained enterococci as compared to 7.5% of the samples of real dairy topping. The total plate counts and psychrotrophic counts for these products were similar.

An investigation of the strength and gas-tightness of plastic aerosol containers

An investigation of the strength and gas-tightness of plastic aerosol containers

Towards the production of a reproducible aerosol by radiolytic methods

A convenient constant reproducible aerosol has been a long-felt need for satisfactory research and development purposes in the field of Aitken nucleus studies. An account is given of a recent attempt to produce such an aerosol by radiolytic methods. It consists of the introduction of α-particle sources of different activities into nucleus-free air in aerosol containers. Condensation nuclei in the Aitken size-range are produced by radiolytic reactions in the air. The concentration, size and size-distribution of the particles have been measured for sources of various activities and the results are sufficiently consistent to allow us to state that radiolytic production seems a promising approach to the problem of providing aerosols of particles lying in the lower Aitken nucleus size range.