Experimental study of the interaction between aluminum and hydrogen fluoride in biocidal explosions

The research presented in this thesis was performed in order to develop a technique for quantitatively measuring the temperature and concentration of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in complex, turbulent flows. These diagnostics were used to investigate the potential suppression of the biocidal species due to aluminum interaction in situ. In the field of counter chemical and biological warfare, explosives are used to evolve spore-killing, and neutralizing agents. Current efforts involve collaboration between experimental and computational laboratories to develop thermochemical models for the biocidal environment. Experiments were conducted to make time resolved, optical measurements that assess the degree of chemical non-equilibrium in these events. From the data collected, the amount of HF generated and rate of equilibration in the biocidal environment was able to be determined. Two different types of experiments were conducted. The initial set of experiments was designed to closely replicate the detonation of a counter weapon of mass destruction (C-WMD) armament. These tests involved the use of high explosives coupled to solid state halogen fuels. The second thrust area was to create an explosion that replicated the kinetics of the post C-WMD detonation, but simplified the environment to allow higher quality measurements. The simplified explosions used gas phase halogen fuel (1,1-difluoroethane) diffused into a propane/air explosion with pneumatically injected powdered particulates. The results showed that neither the presence of aluminum, nor alumina, suppressed the HF population in the first second of the explosion. The data suggested that if the injected aluminum ignites, it preserves higher concentrations at lower temperatures.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Murzyn, Christopher M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glumac, Nick G.
• Krier, Herman

• Aluminum
• Hydrogen Fluoride
• Equilibrium
• Infrared
• Molecular Spectroscopy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Christopher Michael Murzyn

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90641

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90641