Design and calibration of pulsed vapor generators for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine, and pentaerythritol tetranitrate

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00069a012· OSTI ID:5119416

Davies, J P; Blackwood, L G; Davis, S G; Goodrich, L D; Larson, R A ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Computer-controlled pulsed explosive vapor generators for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX), and pentaerythritol (PETN) were built and calibrated to support an independent validation and verification facility for explosive detection systems for the Federal Aviation Administration at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The explosive vapor generators will be used as quantitative vapor standards to establish the lower limits of detection of explosive detection systems. The generators were constructed using pure explosive suspended on quartz beads which were then loaded into a stainless steel tube. The tube was coiled and placed into a temperature-controlled chamber. A carrier gas (ultrapure air) was passed through the coil to carry the explosive molecules. The generators are capable of delivering a pulse of varying explosive mass through the control of coil temperature, airflow rate, and pulse width. Preliminary calibrations have been completed in the picogram to nanogram range using an ion mobility spectrometer as the calibrating instrument. 8 refs., 5 figs., 6 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5119416
• Journal Information: Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States), Journal Name: Analytical Chemistry (Washington); (United States) Vol. 65:21; ISSN 0003-2700; ISSN ANCHAM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400100* -- Analytical & Separations Chemistry
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
AIRPORTS
AMINES
BOILERS
CALIBRATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ESTERS
EVAPORATION
EXPLOSIVES
ION-MOBILITY DETECTORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID ESTERS
NITRO COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ON-LINE CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETN
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SECURITY
TNT
VAPOR GENERATORS