SUPPRESSION OF PENTABORANE FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
Abstract
The prevention of pentaborane fires and explosions in air by chemical techniques was investigated. Two types of apparatus were employed: a diffusion burner and a heterogeneous shock tube. Water, organic liquids, and aqueous solutions were studied in the diffusion burner with a lifted flame at various pentaborane concentrations. Methyl iodide was the best material found, and was the only material which put out the flame at the higher pentaborane concentrations. A solution of iodine in carbon tetrachloride and dimethyl sulfide also showed some promise as fire extinguishants. No nitrogen compounds, phosphorus compounds, or aqueous solutions were found to show any promise. The effects of liquid and solid suppressants on the propagation of detonations in pentaborane-air mixtures were investigated in a heterogeneous shock tube. The response of the pentaborane-air mixtures to shock initiation in this apparatus was found to be very complex. Three types of responses were noted. A high- surface area, silica-alumina powder was the only material found to give significant suppression of explosion in this apparatus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0423709
Entities
People
- R. J. Thompson