The Mechanism and Dynamics of Explosive Combustion in Aerosol Fuels

Abstract

This project investigates the explosive combustion of aerosol fuels using a single particle mass spectrometer. Initiating explosive reactions of small samples (tilde 10 to the -12 grams) in vacuum allows the intermediate products of the reaction to escape into a collisionless region where we detect them using laser spectroscopy. Recent results from our laboratory explore the mechanism of amine sensitization in nitromethane. We initiate the decomposition of nitromethane/diethylamine aerosols using a CO2 laser and observe the -intermediates of the react ion using vacuum-ultraviolet ionization coupled with time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We find that reactions of the aci-anion of nitromethane, formed in an acid-base equilibrium with the amine% are critical in the sensitization mechanism.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 11, 2000
Accession Number
ADA380023

Entities

People

  • Roger E. Miller
  • Tomas Baer

Organizations

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acid-Base Equilibrium
  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Decomposition
  • Explosives
  • Ionization
  • Laser Applications
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Spectroscopy
  • Lasers
  • Mass Spectrometers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Spectra
  • Spectrometers
  • Spectrometry
  • Spectroscopy

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy