if, in fact , the mix is as close to pure as it can possibly be, otherwise its not
Originally Posted by CJ7
The purity of the mix doesn't matter in a binary agent. That's why they are kept separate.
The impurities only affect the shelf life of Sarin AFTER it has been formed by mixing the two agents. Since that occurs when the shell is fired, the sarin only has to last for a matter of seconds.
Here is a link:
http://www.fas.org/irp/gulf/cia/960715/72569.htm
Key quote:
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IN 1989 THE IRAQIS DESTROYED 40 OR MORE TONS OF SARIN THAT HAD DECOMPOSED.
EFFORTS TO LENGTHEN SHELF LIFE
IRAQ HAS TRIED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, IT ATTEMPTED, WITH FOREIGN ASSISTANCE, TO IMPROVE THE SHELF-LIFE OF ITS UNITARY SARIN BY INCREASING, THE PURITY OF THE PRECURSOR AND INTERMEDIATE CHEMICALS AND-REFINING PRODUCTION PROCESSES.
SECOND, IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP BINARY CHEMICAL WEAPONS. IN A BINARY MUNITION, THE TWO PRECURSOR CHEMICALS ARE STORED SEPARATELY AND ONLY MIXED TO FORM THE CHEMICAL AGENT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR WHEN THE ROUND IS IN FLIGHT. THUS, THE SHELF LIFE OF THE AGENT BECOMES IRRELEVANT; MOREOVER, THE MUNITION IS SAFER TO HANDLE AND STORE. BY 1990 IRAQ HAD SUCCESSFULLY TESTED 155-MM ARTILLERY SHELLS AND OTHER BINARY MUNITIONS AND LAUNCHED A BALLISTIC MISSILE WITH A BINARY WARHEAD AS WELL. CIA HOLDS THAT THE STOCKS OF SARIN MAY REMAIN VIABLE WELL BEYOND MARCH. CIA ANALYSTS BELIEVE THAT THE SHELF LIFE PROBLEM WAS ONLY TEMPORARY AND THAT THE IRAQIS CAN NOW PRODUCE UNITARY AGENTS OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY BY ADDING A STABILIZER OR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS.
CIA ALSO BELIEVES THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF IRAQ'S NERVE AGENT STOCKPILE NOW CONSISTS OF BINARY CHEMICAL WEAPONS WHICH WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO DEGRADATION.
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