CLEARING OF MILITARY SMOKES AND AEROSOLS

THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A DEVICE TO CLEAR MILITARY SMOKES AND AEROSOLS. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WITHIN THE PROPOSED PROGRAM ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF CHARGED SCAVENGERS AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO REMOVING AEROSOL PARTICLES AND SMOKES. INCREASING THE CHARGE ON THE SCAVENGING MATERIAL GREATLY ENHANCES THE REMOVAL EFFICIENCY OF THE CLEARING MATERIAL. THE PRIMARY TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES OF PHASE I ARE TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL CHARGE ON PARTICULAR/SELECTED SCAVENGER MATERIALS AS TYPES OF MATERIALS TO BE STUDIED IN PHASE I INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CARBON FIBERS, CHAFF (ALUMINIZED MYLAR), METALS (IRON, ALUMINUM, COPPER), METAL OXIDES (TIO[2]) AND COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ELECTRETE COMPOUNDS (I..S., POLY-MAG 80 AND 90 [BRUHOW INDUSTRIES]). THE SCAVENGING MATERIALS SELECTED FOR THE PHASE I STUDY WILL BE CHARGED WITH A CORONA DISCHARGE DEVICE HELD AT A CONSTANT DISCHARGE POTENTIAL.THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THE TERMINAL VELOCITY AND CHARGING MEASUREMENTS IS AN ELECTROSTATIC BALANCE EMPLOYING A HIGH INTENSITY LIGHT SOURCE. ADDITIONAL CHARGING TECHNIQUES/METHODS APPROPRIATE FOR MILITARY USE WILL BE IDENTIFIED.