Explosibility Of Magnesium Coated Boron Particles In Air

The maximum explesion pressure rate of pressure rise and oxidant consumption Will be determined for air-suspended clouds ef a unique fine ¿less than l0 micrometer diameter¿ boron powder Yhe unique powder particles are thinly coated ¿by a process developed at AeroChem7 with magnesium or aluminum to aid in their ignitionThe proposed method is based on extensive work at the U S Bureau of Mines measuring the explosibility of dust clouds In Phase I experiments a cloud of particles in air will be ignited inside a closed chamber A fast-response transducer will be used to obtain the rate of pressmre rise and maxi¿¿¿ explosion pressure An oxygen sensor will be used to determ¿ne oxidant consumQtion Phase I experiments Will demonstrate the enhancement of ignition and explosion by magnesium-coated particles relative to otherwise identical uncoated boYon particles Ihe coated particles will be produced on site Explosion measurements made under identical co¿ditions for the eoated and uncoated poWders Will be correlated against the coating thickness from l-l0X of the particle mass Phase II work will c¿mprise the above and other detailed measurements in a larger scale system on both Mg- and Al-coated particles The results Will be analysed in mechanistic terms to obtain an understanding of cloud ignition and explosion for the unique coated powders This proposed program will integrate the particle preparation and evaluation of the neW generation of boron particle explosives tion of