Calibration of an explosives vapor generator based on vapor diffusion from a condensed phase
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States)
In the field of explosives detection there is currently a need for a calibrated source of explosives vapor. Such a source could be used to test and calibrate explosives detection systems which identify explosives via the collection of vapor or air borne particulate matter. This paper describes the principles of operation and evaluation of one such explosives vapor generator. This generator is based on the diffusion of vapor from a condensed phase (i.e., solid or liquid) in a source reservoir, and the output has been tied to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mass standard. We discuss results of the calibration of this generator using the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and cyclonite (RDX). The mass output of this generator is stable over hundreds of hours of continuous operation, and is adjustable from the low picograms(pg)/sec range to at least 10 nanograms(ng)/sec. In the case of TNT, the mass output correlates well with predictions based on gas phase diffusion theory. In the case of RDX, the agreement with theory is less good. This may be attributable to a variety of factors, possibly including inaccuracies in the published data on RDX vapor pressure as a function of temperature.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 274127
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-96-2016C; CONF-960767-21; ON: DE96013831; CNN: Agreement DTFA03-95-X-90005
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 37. annual meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Naples, FL (United States), 28 Jul - 1 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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