Laser Ignition of Propellants and Explosives

Abstract

Laser and radiative ignition of 24 solid propellants and explosives was analyzed. The effect of ignition criterion used to calculate ignition delays from models was evaluated. Values for the optical parameters reflection, R(lambda) and absorption, k(lambda) coefficients at wavelengths 0.36-1, 1.06 and 10.6 microns were summarized. Effects of in-depth absorption and vaporization were considered. Methods for determining the relation of ignition delays for conductive heating (R(lambda) = 1, k(lambda) = infinity) and radiative heating at various wavelengths were developed. Methods for deriving kinetic parameters for the ignition and vaporization mechanisms were developed. Changes in the ignition mechanism at high radiative power/flux are discussed. A summary of the minimum flux levels needed for ignition and the Arrhenius kinetic parameters determined from ignition delay measurements with several energetic materials is presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA348616

Entities

People

  • Arthur Cohen
  • Brad Forch
  • Leonid Strakovskiy
  • Richard Beyer
  • Robert Fifer

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Combustion
  • Composite Propellants
  • Double Base Propellants
  • Energetic Materials
  • Exothermic Reactions
  • Explosives
  • Heat Capacity
  • Heat Transfer
  • Ignition
  • Ignition Lag
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Propellants
  • Solid Propellants
  • Specific Heat

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy