Initiation of explosive molten aluminum-water interactions at wet or underwater surfaces
Conference
·
OSTI ID:5071351
In certain metallurgical operations, molten aluminum may inadvertently contact a wet or underwater solid surface. Occasionally, depending on the nature of the surface and contact conditions, an explosive melt-water interaction may be initiated. These interactions are sometimes attributed to the entrapment of water between the melt and the surface. In this work, we have used laboratory experiments to investigate these surface initiations. By coupling our results with the literature of boiling and bubble nucleation, we are able to propose and support a mechanism for the initiation of these vigorous interactions. The mechanism involves superheating of a thin layer of liquid water enclosed between the melt and a water-wettable solid surface, followed by explosive vaporization. Because nonwettable surfaces offer copious bubble nucleation sites, superheating is suppressed and the explosions are reduced or eliminated at hydrophobic surfaces. 15 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5071351
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-87-2761C; CONF-880724-7; ON: DE88004686
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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