Burning of antimony/potassium permanganate pyrotechnic compositions in closed systems

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Combust. Flame; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(86)90040-4· OSTI ID:5187130

Beck, M W; Brown, M E

The antimony/potassium permanganate pyrotechnic system is not gasless although it is used in sealed electric delay detonators. Burning rates of identical compositions vary according to the extent to which the system is confined. The variation is especially marked for the high fuel compositions which are the less gassy. Pressure profiles and burning rates have been measured in simulated detonators, with and without venting. For high fuel compositions, sealing the system increases the burning rate considerably. When the proportion of fuel is lower, the effect is not as great. The low fuel compositions form a solid product slag which tends to seal the column and force the hot oxygen gas evolved during decomposition of the KMnO/sub 4/ forward. The unburned powder is thus brought more rapidly to its ignition temperature (approx. = 500/sup 0/C) and the burning rate is increased. The high fuel compositions give a molten product and thus the ignition chamber must be sealed to ensure forward movement of hot gas.

• Research Organization: Chemistry Dept., Rhodes Univ., Grahamstown
• OSTI ID: 5187130
• Journal Information: Combust. Flame; (United States), Vol. 65:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS
COMBUSTION KINETICS
POTASSIUM PERMANGANATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
DECOMPOSITION
DETONATORS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
OXYGEN
POWDERS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
SEALS
SLAGS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
KINETICS
MANGANESE COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMANGANATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
400800* - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry