Preliminary Investigation into Pyrotechnic Chemical Products via Mass Spectrometry Techniques
Abstract
It is imperative for pyrotechnic testing facilities to operate with relatively low concentrations of any potentially hazardous chemical contamination. New regulations are already impacting the operation of these facilities and accordingly are driving toward the elimination of several currently utilized components (e.g., perchlorates and chromates) within pyrotechnic formulations. Meanwhile, the actual byproducts of many in-service multi-component pyrotechnics remain relatively unknown. Thus, it is important to characterize the gaseous and condensed-phase chemical species that arise following the deployment of pyrotechnic energetic materials to more adequately understand the potential impact that these species can present to the environment. These environmentally-objectionable chemical species can potentially arise from unreacted components of the original pyrotechnic formulation or as lower abundance species from undesirable side reactions within the combustion. Mass spectrometry (MS) enables the rapid analysis of these products with instrumentation that offers unparalleled sensitivity and techniques that provide exceptional information content. Here, we explore the utility of these measurements to qualitatively differentiate between unique pyrotechnic formulations that are designed to produce the emission of visible yellow light while eliminating the use of the perchlorate oxidizer that is currently included within the composition for the in-service yellow signal flare. Individual samples for each reacted pyrotechnic composition will be collected directly into a water???filled vessel, where these resulting aqueous samples can be introduced into the mass spectrometer via electrospray ionization. Pyrolysis-MS is then used to investigate the gaseous products that are formed from thermal decomposition of several individual components of the pyrotechnic formulation (e.g., epoxy binders, asphaltum, etc.). The identity and quantity of these che
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA628266
Entities
People
- Christina Yamamoto
- David Dye
- Eric Miklaszewski
- Jonathan M. Dilger
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center