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Thermite and intermetallic projectiles examined experimentally in air and inert gas environments

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0087577· OSTI ID:1979065
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [2]
  1. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States); Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)
  2. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)
  3. Matsys, Inc., Sterling, VA (United States)
  4. Karagozian & Case Inc., Glendale, CA (United States)
  5. Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Intermetallic (aluminum and zirconium) and thermite (aluminum and molybdenum trioxide) projectiles were launched using a high velocity impact ignition testing system. The experiments were designed to simulate reactivity in high (argon) and low (air) altitude environments. The projectiles were launched into a chamber that included a steel target plate for projectile penetration before impacting a rear witness plate. The chamber was semi-sealed and instrumented for quasi-static pressure data. The results provide an understanding of energy release from the projectile materials and of the environmental influence on performance. The transient pressure traces provide insight into reaction kinetics. A bifurcation in transient pressure rise was an indication of a shift in reaction kinetics from the inherent reactive material to metal oxidation with the environment. The bifurcation was delayed by about 0.15 ms for the intermetallic relative to the thermite, evidence that the thermite reaction proceeded faster upon impact than the intermetallic. The two-step process (impact ignition of the reactive material followed by metal oxidation) was shown to produce higher energy conversion efficiencies than projectiles composed of pure fuel (i.e., aluminum) reported previously. Both reactive materials showed energy conversion efficiencies greater than 30% (for air) and 50% (for argon), and an explanation of underestimated efficiency and energy losses is provided. These results have implications for advancing formulations for ballistic applications. Structural reactive materials can be used to modify the effective reactivity of metal-containing formulations in varied atmospheric environments.

Research Organization:
Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Air Force Research Lab Munitions Directorate (AFRL-RW); Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003988
OSTI ID:
1979065
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1866498
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 131; ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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