D.T.D.

406B
Ministry of Defence
Defence Procurement Agency, ADRP2
Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH

OBSOLESCENCE NOTICE
All DTD specifications were declared obsolescent from 1 st April 1999. All DTD 900
series approvals also lapsed at that time. The standards will no longer be updated but
will be retained as obsolescent documents to provide for the servicing of existing
equipment.

Further Guidance
The aim in declaring the specifications obsolescent is to recognise that the
documents are not being updated and thus should be used with care by both
purchaser and supplier. For example, a specification could contain valid technical
information but may also contain type approval clauses that contradict procurement
policy and/or use materials that do not comply with environmental legislation. The
obsolescent specification can still be used as a basis for a purchase provided that the
supplier and purchaser agree suitable changes to the specification within the
purchase order/contract.
For the DTD 900 system, each specification has provided an MoD approved
material and process. For these items, the declaration of obsolescence will constitute
the termination of both the extant MoD approval and the continuing MoD assessment
that had underpinned those approvals. Again, the technical content of the document
remains valid and can be used by both purchaser and supplier as a basis for a
contract but an acceptable (to the parties) approval/assessment procedure would be
required.

D.T.D. 406B

MINISTRY OF AVIATION

Superseding D.T.D.406A
September, 1961

Aircraft Material Specification

DE-ICING FLUID AL-5

NOTE 1. This specification is one of a series issued by the Ministry of Aviation either to meet a limited requirement
not covered by an existing British Standard Specification or to serve as a basis for inspection of materials, the
properties and uses of which are not sufficiently developed to warrant submission to the British Standards Institution
for standardisation.
NOTE 2. This fluid is intended for use for propeller de-icing and for wing and tail de-icing systems equipped with
porous distributors.

1. Composition
The material shall have the following approximate composition:Eighty-five parts by volume of ethylene glycol to British Standard 2537.
Five parts by volume of ethyl alcohol to Specification DEF-58 or iso-propyl alcohol to British Standard
1595.
Ten parts by volume of water.
The water used shall either have been distilled or treated by an anion/cation exchange process to ensure an
electrical conductivity not exceeding 15 micromho/cm.
2. Description
The material shall be a clear colourless liquid, free from visible impurities.
3. Specific gravity
The specific gravity at 15.5C (60F) shall be not less than 1.092 and not greater than 1.097 when compared
with water at the same temperature.
4. Miscibility with water
The miscibility of the material with water shall be such that the material shall show no turbidity when
mixed with distilled water in any proportion at 15C.
5. Cold test
No deposition of solid shall occur when the material is maintained at a temperature of minus 40C for one
hour with frequent shaking.
6. Viscosity
The kinematic viscosity of the material at 20C shall be not less than 11.0 centistokes and not greater than
13.0 centistokes.
7. pH Value
The pH value of the material shall not be less than 6.0 nor greater than 7.5 when determined by the method
described in Appendix 1.
8. Conductivity
The electrical conductivity of a dilution of the material with its own volume of distilled water having an
electrical conductivity of not more than 1 micromho/cm shall not exceed 5 micromho/cm.

APPENDIX I
Method for the determination of pH Value
The material shall be diluted with an equal volume of distilled water (pH 6.5-7.0) and the pH value of the
diluted material determined calorimetrically.
In case of dispute the pH value shall be determined electrometrically, using a glass electrode.

D.T.D.406

Approved for issue,

N. J. L. MEGSON,
Director of Materials Research and Development (Air)

Crown copyright 1961

Printed in England by M. Harland & Son Ltd.
and published by
HER MAJESTYS STATIONERY O FFICE
Price 6d. net
(5165) Wt.2849-1800 K.ll 10/61 M.H.&S. 345

70-9999