NEW FLARE FORMULATIONS FOR HIGH ALTITUDE APPLICATION,
Abstract
A comparison of various fuels, such as atomized magnesium, zirconium, hafnium, magnesium-barium alloy, and magnesium-strontium alloy, under ambient and simulated high altitude conditions has been conducted. The metal powders were evaluated in binary formulations using sodium nitrate oxidant. Kraft paper tubes having a 0.625 inch ID and 0.0625 inch wall thickness were used as test vehicles. Data analyses indicated that all the formulations containing the various fuels sustained significant decreases in candlepower and burning rate in the transition from ambient pressure to reduced pressure simulating various altitude levels. Only the formulations containing zirconium and hafnium were tested at a simulated altitude of 100,000 feet. The data obtained for the alloy-containing compositions at 80,000 feet did not justify further evaluations at 100,000 feet simulated altitude. At simulated altitudes of 80,000 feet and lower, the powdered zirconium and some of the alloy-containing systems were observed to be superior to those formulations containing atomized magnesium. The systems which contained magnesium-barium alloy were found to be superior to the magnesium-strontium and the mixed alloy formulations under reduced pressure conditions. The data generated for the hafnium/sodium nitrate formulation at simulated altitudes of 80,000- and 100,000 feet was not considered reliable since the light output was below the sensitivity of the instrumentation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0641957
Entities
People
- Bossie Jackson
- James A. Carrazza
- Seymour M. Kaye
Organizations
- Picatinny Arsenal