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Title: Electromagnetic enhanced ignition

Abstract

Here, we investigate how EM radiation affects the thermal decomposition pathway in HMX. The experiment used an external heat source (CO2 laser) to rapidly heat the surface of HMX and observe the response upon application of EM energy that, on its own, is not enough power to induce heating or ignition. We hypothesize that charged intermediate decomposition species and free radicals in the gas phase interact strongly with EM energy, leading to plasma formation. These gas phase species form as a result of HMX sublimation and decomposition, and will act as “virtual antennas” and strongly couple to EM energy. The rapid absorption of EM energy during this coupling event is observed in the measured reflected power data. Ignition and plasma formation were monitored using both visible and IR photodiode probes, as well as imaged using a high-speed video camera. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of an EM field will perturb the thermal decomposition pathway of HMX, and cause ignition to occur at a lower temperature than what is predicted under typical thermal conditions. This intense interaction results in electrically excited molecules that propagate the energy and surpass the activation barrier for ignition before the predicted ignition temperaturemore » of the bulk sample has been reached. In conclusion, understanding the decomposition of energetic materials under the influence of EM energy is important to understand and predict material response under a variety of environmental conditions.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1460630
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1396730
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-28948
Journal ID: ISSN 0010-2180
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396; LA-UR-16-28948; Sandia
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Combustion and Flame
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 181; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0010-2180
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; Explosives; Plasma; Electromagnetic energy; Ignition; Decomposition; Microwaves

Citation Formats

Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, and Perry, William Lee. Electromagnetic enhanced ignition. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013.
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Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, & Perry, William Lee. Electromagnetic enhanced ignition. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013
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Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, and Perry, William Lee. Thu . "Electromagnetic enhanced ignition". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1460630.
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@article{osti_1460630,
title = {Electromagnetic enhanced ignition},
author = {Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham and Perry, William Lee},
abstractNote = {Here, we investigate how EM radiation affects the thermal decomposition pathway in HMX. The experiment used an external heat source (CO2 laser) to rapidly heat the surface of HMX and observe the response upon application of EM energy that, on its own, is not enough power to induce heating or ignition. We hypothesize that charged intermediate decomposition species and free radicals in the gas phase interact strongly with EM energy, leading to plasma formation. These gas phase species form as a result of HMX sublimation and decomposition, and will act as “virtual antennas” and strongly couple to EM energy. The rapid absorption of EM energy during this coupling event is observed in the measured reflected power data. Ignition and plasma formation were monitored using both visible and IR photodiode probes, as well as imaged using a high-speed video camera. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of an EM field will perturb the thermal decomposition pathway of HMX, and cause ignition to occur at a lower temperature than what is predicted under typical thermal conditions. This intense interaction results in electrically excited molecules that propagate the energy and surpass the activation barrier for ignition before the predicted ignition temperature of the bulk sample has been reached. In conclusion, understanding the decomposition of energetic materials under the influence of EM energy is important to understand and predict material response under a variety of environmental conditions.},
doi = {10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013},
journal = {Combustion and Flame},
number = C,
volume = 181,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013
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Works referenced in this record:

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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Effect of Airflow Temperature on the Formation of Initial Flame Kernel and the Propagation Characteristics of Flame
    journal, December 2018

    • Li, Jianzhong; Chen, Jian; Yuan, Li
    • International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 2018
    • DOI: 10.1155/2018/7286705
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