Material Transported

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• Active Agent
• Propellant

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Active Agent

The product tested was Counter Assault, a red pepper derivative. The 230-gram aerosol container was used in this test. The active component in the red pepper derivative is Oleoresin Capsicum at a concentration of 10 percent. The material is tolerable in liquid form, but is very irritating in an aerosol form. The spray is supposed to be effective to 12 feet, covering a width of 2 feet at that distance. The product was tested outdoors in rather quiet air and its presence could still be noticed 10 minutes after the spray was released. Other similar products are available. Universal Defense Alternative Products makes a slightly larger aerosol canister (255 grams) and one that is smaller (187 grams). Oleoresin Capsicum, OC, is rated in Scovill Heat Units (SHU). The Universal Defense product is rated at 2 million SHU.

Propellant

The propellant used in the Counter Assault aerosol can was Dupont’s SUVA, or Dymel 134 Alpha. The propellant is also used in the Universal Defense product. Although inhaling very large doses of SUVA can result in central nervous system depression, it is nontoxic in small quantities. The SUVA propellant is also used in asthma inhalers. It is not flammable.

The aerosol container will have an internal pressure about equal to the propellant’s vapor pressure. The vapor pressures for the propellant at different temperatures are listed below:

Vapor Pressure vs. Temperature
PSI	°F
46	60
60	70
80	72
150	120
170	130