Kinetics of Metal Atom Oxidation Reactions
Abstract
For predictions regarding observables in nuclear fireballs and their effect on defense discrimination capabilities, the rates of oxidation of several free metal atom species need to be known. The goal of the present work is to measure the rate coefficients (and their temperature dependence) for the reactions of gaseous Al and Fe with O2 and O3. The apparatus used is a a cylindrical fast-flow reactor, suitable for the study of the reaction kinetics of various gaseous species at temperatures up to about 2000 K. In these studies, metal is vaporized and entrained in an inert carrier gas stream. O2 is introduced into this gas stream at concentrations much larger than that of the metal atoms. Rate coefficients are obtained from the observed variations in the relative metal atom concentrations (measured in absorption) as a function of reaction time, O2 concentration, total pressure, and temperature. Measurements of the kinetics of the homogeneous gas phase reaction between Al and O2 at 1400 K have been completed. To determine the temperature dependence of k(1) over the temperature range of interest to ARPA/DNA and to study the kinetics of the reactions of Al and Fe with O3, temperatures much lower than 1400 K are required. The experiments indicate that by working in this mode the rate coefficients of Al reactions can be measured down to at least 300 K.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0756644
Entities
People
- Arthur Fontijn
- James J. Houghton
- William Felder