Fast-Atom Bombardment of Molten Boron Trioxide,

Abstract

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectra of vitreous boron trioxide (B2O3) has been obtained at sample temperatures below and above the melting point of B2O3 (450 C). The experiments utilized a new high-temperature sample holder that has been described in detail elsewhere (1). Spectra were obtained over a sample temperature range of 150-700 C. Boron trioxide is thermally stable over this temperature range and its low vapor pressure and high viscosity assure a long lived sample and a consistent surface geometry. The technique enabled the first observation of high-molecular-weight, gas-phase boron oxides (see figure). Collision-induced dissociation of the boron oxide ions revealed structures composed of branched chains of alternating boron and oxygen atoms terminated by -B=O bonds. This observation is consistent with the structure of condensed-phase B2O3, which is composed of infinite chains of BO3 units linked by -B-O-B- bonds.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA183681

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Doyle Jr

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Availability
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Classification
  • Governments
  • High Temperature
  • Insensitive Explosives
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Melting Point
  • Military Research
  • Security
  • Spectra
  • Spectrometry
  • United States
  • Vapor Pressure

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry