Physical and Chemical Characterization of Military Smokes. Part 3. White Phosphorus-Felt Smokes
Abstract
An investigation of the U.S. Army White phosphorus-felt smoke munition is described in this report. The study included the chemical characterization of the smoke observations of the fog stability. The wedge- shaped generating munition is a pellet consisting of about 80% by weight of phosphorus somewhat irregularly distributed in the felt matrix. Principal impurities in the phosphorus were boron, silicon, iron, and arsenic, all at concentration levels near 0.1 to 0.01%. No significant levels of metallic impurities were present in the felt. Chemical analysis of the smokes indicated that they were predominately polyphosphoric acids. Identification was made of the first eight members of the series beginning with orthophosphoric acid and continuing to octaphorphoric acid. Higher members of the series were detected, but were not separated. Small traces of hydrocarbon and nitrogen derivatives were detected at the parts per million level and lower. No organophosphorus compounds were detected. Particle size distributions tended to center around 1.0 micrometer within a very narrow size distribution. Aging a cloud over a two-hour period led to slight increases in particle size.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 29, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA115657
Entities
People
- Alan Snelson
- Narayanan Rajendran
- Ronald Butler
- Sidney Katz
- Warren Bock
Organizations
- IIT Research Institute