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Material/Component Compatibility

space suit fire
A Space Shuttle extravehicular mobility unit (spacesuit and life-support backpack) was destroyed in a flash fire during a functional test in the Johnson Space Center’s Crew Systems Laboratory. No one was in the suit at the time of the fire. A compatibility issue with the materials in the oxygen regulator was the probable cause.
NASA JSC

The compatibility of materials and components used in oxygen service or oxygen–enriched environments is a critical issue in space, aircraft, medical, underwater diving and industrial applications. With nearly 40 years of oxygen compatibility research and oxygen system testing, our engineers have completed countless Oxygen Compatibility Assessments (OCA), hazards analysis, and data analysis investigations resulting in a rich repository of information about oxygen compatible materials and components and their performance with oxygen and other media.

Through our understanding of the fire hazards of materials and the information obtained through testing and analysis we can recommend compatible materials for components and systems. Working closely with our in-house Component Services workforce, we can also repair, refurbish and modify components for use in oxygen environments and systems.