Sea recovered ordnance

[HAZORD]

Pete and Jeff,

Two questions:

Is Mustard heavier than water, and if so, if it escapes from projectiles under sea water, does it dissolve into something, or does it remain a heavy black syrup as in Pete's photos of the bandsaw?

 

[glevum]

It hydrolyses with seawater and forms a solid.

The center of the mass can contain unconverted mustard gas.

 

[peteblight]

Mustard has a density of 1.27 so is heavier.

As pointed out by glevum, it forms a skin in water with the inside still as a liquid.
When disposing of it by hydrolysis the trick is to agitate it and heat it to allow it to breakdown.

Talking of density of chemical warefare agents, here's a good picture of chlorine in a trench. (Relative density 2.49)

 

[glevum]

I have heard of people coming across Mustard Gas while diving and getting equipment contaminated if the lumps are crushed.

I have luckily never come across any while Diving.

 

[HAZORD]

Very interesting stuf guys, thanks.