Propellant combustion product analyses on an M16 rifle and a 105 mm caliber gun
Some of the propellant combustion products (particulates and gases) that are formed on firing an M16 rifle and 105 mm caliber gun have been subjected to qualitative, and to a more limited extent, quantitative chemical analyses. For both weapons, large numbers of trace gas species, 90 to 70 respectively, were identified in the combustion effluents from the small large bore weapons. Quantifiable data were obtained for 15 of these species in terms of mass of compound formed per unit mass of propellant burned. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, 11 and 4 respectively, were identified and quantified in the combustion products from the small and large bore weapons. Metal particulates in the respirable range in the combustion products from the M16 rifle were analyzed and quantified. Many of the chemical species identified in the study have known toxicological properties. Although the data base is limited, it appears that within the confines of the different propellants' stoichiometries, the amounts of combustion products formed are approximately directly proportional to the masses of propellant burned.
- Research Organization:
- IIT Research Institute, Chicago, IL
- OSTI ID:
- 6438266
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States) Vol. A20:3; ISSN JESED
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANTIMONY
AROMATICS
ARSENIC
BARIUM
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
COPPER
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LEAD
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PROPELLANTS
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEMIMETALS
STOICHIOMETRY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WEAPONS
ZINC