Combustion of B4C/KNO3 binary pyrotechnic system

Abstract

Presented herein is an experimental study on the combustion of B4C/KNO3 binary pyrotechnic system. Combustion products were tested using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). According to the results of tests and CEA calculation, the combustion reaction equation was established. The flames and burning rates were recorded by a high speed camera and a spectrophotometer. The effect of B4C particle size on the thermal sensitivity of B4C/KNO3 was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. In addition, a reliable method for calculating the flame temperature was proposed. Based on the results of experiments, the combustion reaction mechanism was briefly analyzed. The burning rate, flame temperature and thermal sensitivity of B4C/KNO3 increase with the decrease of B4C particle size. The mass ratio of B4C/KNO3 has a great effect on combustion properties. Oxidizer-rich compositions have low flame temperatures, low burning rates, and provide green light emission. The combustion reactions of fuel-rich compositions are vigorous, and the B4C/KNO3 with mass ratio of 25:75 has the highest burning rate and the highest flame temperature.

Keywords

• Pyrotechnics
• Combustion
• Flame
• Boron carbide