Particle combustion dynamics of metal-based reactive materials

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2011

Abstract

Micron-sized particles of aluminum and aluminum-based reactive materials were fed into a CO2 laser beam where they were ignited. Just prior to entering the CO2 beam, particles were illuminated by a low-power infrared laser, and their sizes were measured in situ using the intensity of scattered light. Experiments are presented for spherical Al and nanocomposite powders prepared by mechanical milling, including Al·CuO, Al·MoO3, Al·I2, Al·B·I2, Al-wax, and Al-polyethylene. The particle emission signals were recorded and their combustion temperatures were measured optically. In addition, the intensity of molecular AlO emission was monitored. Experiments were performed in air for all materials; additional data for Al combustion in different oxidizers are also presented. For all materials, the effect of particle size on its burn time was observed to be small. No composite material demonstrated consistently higher temperatures or shorter burn times compared to Al powders. For materials with volatile additives (I2, wax, polyethylene), particle combustion was accompanied by pronounced oscillatory patterns; especially large vapor-phase flames were observed for Al-hydrocarbon composites. Distinct surface reactions were observed for Al·B·I2 composite particles, which also had the longest burn times compared to other materials. Al·CuO particles fragmented upon ignition while Al·MoO3 particles burned relatively slowly and without fragmentation. © 2011 by Begell House, Inc.

Identifier

84872902643 (Scopus)

Publication Title

International Journal of Energetic Materials and Chemical Propulsion

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJEnergeticMaterialsChemProp.2012005014

e-ISSN

21507678

ISSN

2150766X

First Page

297

Last Page

319

Issue

4

Volume

10

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS