Transporting vials to much higher altitude...problems?

[Billegitimate]

I am a private pilot, and regularly take trip where I am going from my home at about 500' above sea level to the mountains, and flying between 12,000 and 18,000 on the way there.

The drop in pressure at 18,000 compared to sea level is large, and I must wear oxygen at those levels. Over the years I've had a lot of experience with that, and the little things that you tend not to think about until they show up.

Like the half full bottle of shampoo in the suitcase. It had a half bottle of close to sea level air in it. At the higher altitudes, that pressure forced the entire liquid contents into my suitcase!

Or the unopened bag of chips that I didn't know the kids had thrown in the back. When it exploded at 15,000' it was pretty unsettling till we figured out what it was.

So I'm curious about a partially used vial. It has little holes in the rubber diaphragm from syringes, and it's now half air. Does anyone know how much pressure it will take to get it to leak?

It's a pain to ensure it's packed in such a way that it's guaranteed to be sitting upright, but I don't want the contents to be forced out into my suitcase either!

Any thoughts or experience with this? Doesn't have to involve flying, you'd get the same effect driving up from lowlands of Texas to go skiing in Colorado.

 

[Mprtz]

I am a private pilot, and regularly take trip where I am going from my home at about 500' above sea level to the mountains, and flying between 12,000 and 18,000 on the way there.

The drop in pressure at 18,000 compared to sea level is large, and I must wear oxygen at those levels. Over the years I've had a lot of experience with that, and the little things that you tend not to think about until they show up.

Like the half full bottle of shampoo in the suitcase. It had a half bottle of close to sea level air in it. At the higher altitudes, that pressure forced the entire liquid contents into my suitcase!

Or the unopened bag of chips that I didn't know the kids had thrown in the back. When it exploded at 15,000' it was pretty unsettling till we figured out what it was.

So I'm curious about a partially used vial. It has little holes in the rubber diaphragm from syringes, and it's now half air. Does anyone know how much pressure it will take to get it to leak?

It's a pain to ensure it's packed in such a way that it's guaranteed to be sitting upright, but I don't want the contents to be forced out into my suitcase either!

Any thoughts or experience with this? Doesn't have to involve flying, you'd get the same effect driving up from lowlands of Texas to go skiing in Colorado.

Easy solution: find a suitably sized rigid air-tight container and put the vial in that when going to high altitude. The pressure inside and outside the vial seal will then remain the same. I'm sure Nalgene makes something suitable. Basically the same principle a pressure cooker uses to keep glass jars from exploding when heated.

I think you are right to worry otherwise: the air pressure drop from 500 to 1800 feet is like 14.3 to 6.7 psi, equating to several pounds of pressure on the rubber seal, which may well leak or deform.

And, allow me to express my jealousy that you are a pilot

 

[Billegitimate]

Hmmm. Interesting approach. I'll look for something like that. Doesn't need to be big, so perhaps this would work.

Have to be strong though! The kids have always enjoyed drinking their water bottles and putting the caps on at altitude, then watching them get crushed as we descend.

 

[Mprtz]

Hmmm. Interesting approach. I'll look for something like that. Doesn't need to be big, so perhaps this would work.

Have to be strong though! The kids have always enjoyed drinking their water bottles and putting the caps on at altitude, then watching them get crushed as we descend.

I'm sure it will work. Of course you don't open the bottle until you have descended (no inflight injections ). A lexan nalgene bottle (get the small 12oz size) will be plenty strong and will only have to withstand bursting, not crushing forces when used this way. It would take a whole lot more than 7 psi to burst such a water bottle.

Here's another idea, even cheaper: find a scrap piece of schedule 40 PVC pipe with one threaded end. Cut it to length and glue a cap on the non-threaded end. Then use a threaded cap to close the other end. You could size it to fit one or more vials.

 

[Alpin]

Vials might explode on the flight and the fumes from the T might cause masculinization effects to those sensitive to those on the aircraft.
I advise you to exercise caution in transporting this substance.
You might have to abort from the aircraft and prepare for emergency landing by parachute if worst comes to worst..

 

[DrHouse]

Just put a needle in it and let the pressure equalize. If you don't want to keep the needle in it, allow equalization every so often if you're worried about it.

I'm not positive, but I don't think the differential in air pressure would not cause the vial to fail. Maybe if the vial had excessive pressure from bottling.

 

[Mprtz]

Just put a needle in it and let the pressure equalize. If you don't want to keep the needle in it, allow equalization every so often if you're worried about it.

I'm not positive, but I don't think the differential in air pressure would not cause the vial to fail. Maybe if the vial had excessive pressure from bottling.

And this is easier than putting your vials in a kiddie nalgene bottle?