Scaled-up production of n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/I photolytic laser ''fuel''

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1139914· OSTI ID:7011719

Herrera, S D; Schlie, L A; Richert, S A

A tenfold mass production scale-up that provides an economical synthesis method for producing normal-heptafluoropropyl iodide (n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/I) laser ''fuel'' sustaining stable and reliable cw atomic iodine lasing at 1.315 ..mu.. via UV photolysis is reported. Such results strongly indicate that high purity n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/I is being synthesized. Over 1 kg per day production of this n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/I is demonstrated. The synthesis procedure involves three steps: formation of the n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/COONa salt, refluxing at 45 /sup 0/C, and a packed column distillation. During the synthesis, particular attention is given to minimizing those impurities producing detrimental effects on atomic iodine lasers. Yields of 65%--75% for n-C/sub 3/F/sub 7/I laser ''fuel'' are achieved whenever liquid nitrogen is used to collect the synthesized product.

• Research Organization: Advanced Laser Division, Air Force Weapons Laboratory (AFSC) Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117-6008
• OSTI ID: 7011719
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Journal Name: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) Vol. 59:11; ISSN RSINA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL LASERS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
LASER MATERIALS
LASERS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
YIELDS