Oxidation and ignition of aluminum particles in the presence of water vapor

Mirko Schoenitz; Salil Mohan; Chi Mon Chen; Edward Dreyzin

Oxidation and ignition of aluminum particles in the presence of water vapor

Mirko Schoenitz, Salil Mohan, Chi Mon Chen, Edward Dreyzin

Chemical and Materials Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aluminum oxidation and ignition in water vapor and in mixed water/oxygen environments were studied experimentally. Oxidation experiments were performed using a thermogravimetric technique. Samples pre-heated to specific temperatures were also recovered and produced phases were analyzed using x-ray diffraction. Ignition was studied by feeding aluminum particles into a laser jet. The laser power was increased stepwise to determine the threshold power required for particle ignition. Oxidation of aluminum in water occurs in several steps, which is generally similar to the oxidation of aluminum in oxygen. A new oxidation step occurs at the aluminum melting point only when water vapor is present. This new oxidation step is shown to occur because of an unusual permeability of γ-Al₂O₃ for OH. Stressed γ-Al ₂O₃ was observed to behave as a semi-permeable membrane allowing preferential transport of OH but no oxygen towards aluminum surface. It was also observed that transition alumina polymorphs were stabilized in presence of water so that formation of α-Al₂O₃ was delayed and the particles were completely oxidized before the entire oxide coating was transferred to α-Al₂O₃. Finally, ignition of aluminum particles in water was observed to occur at much higher laser threshold powers compared to ignition of the same particles in air.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
State	Published - Dec 1 2008
Event	44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit - Hartford, CT, United States Duration: Jul 21 2008 → Jul 23 2008

Other

Other	44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
Country/Territory	United States
City	Hartford, CT
Period	7/21/08 → 7/23/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Aerospace Engineering
Control and Systems Engineering
Space and Planetary Science
Energy(all)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Cite this

@inproceedings{4b0247a32f14470897e0eb7f736cf861,

title = "Oxidation and ignition of aluminum particles in the presence of water vapor",

abstract = "Aluminum oxidation and ignition in water vapor and in mixed water/oxygen environments were studied experimentally. Oxidation experiments were performed using a thermogravimetric technique. Samples pre-heated to specific temperatures were also recovered and produced phases were analyzed using x-ray diffraction. Ignition was studied by feeding aluminum particles into a laser jet. The laser power was increased stepwise to determine the threshold power required for particle ignition. Oxidation of aluminum in water occurs in several steps, which is generally similar to the oxidation of aluminum in oxygen. A new oxidation step occurs at the aluminum melting point only when water vapor is present. This new oxidation step is shown to occur because of an unusual permeability of γ-Al2O3 for OH. Stressed γ-Al 2O3 was observed to behave as a semi-permeable membrane allowing preferential transport of OH but no oxygen towards aluminum surface. It was also observed that transition alumina polymorphs were stabilized in presence of water so that formation of α-Al2O3 was delayed and the particles were completely oxidized before the entire oxide coating was transferred to α-Al2O3. Finally, ignition of aluminum particles in water was observed to occur at much higher laser threshold powers compared to ignition of the same particles in air.",

author = "Mirko Schoenitz and Salil Mohan and Chen, {Chi Mon} and Edward Dreyzin",

year = "2008",

month = dec,

day = "1",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "9781563479434",

booktitle = "44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit",

note = "44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit ; Conference date: 21-07-2008 Through 23-07-2008",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Oxidation and ignition of aluminum particles in the presence of water vapor

AU - Schoenitz, Mirko

AU - Mohan, Salil

AU - Chen, Chi Mon

AU - Dreyzin, Edward

PY - 2008/12/1

Y1 - 2008/12/1

N2 - Aluminum oxidation and ignition in water vapor and in mixed water/oxygen environments were studied experimentally. Oxidation experiments were performed using a thermogravimetric technique. Samples pre-heated to specific temperatures were also recovered and produced phases were analyzed using x-ray diffraction. Ignition was studied by feeding aluminum particles into a laser jet. The laser power was increased stepwise to determine the threshold power required for particle ignition. Oxidation of aluminum in water occurs in several steps, which is generally similar to the oxidation of aluminum in oxygen. A new oxidation step occurs at the aluminum melting point only when water vapor is present. This new oxidation step is shown to occur because of an unusual permeability of γ-Al2O3 for OH. Stressed γ-Al 2O3 was observed to behave as a semi-permeable membrane allowing preferential transport of OH but no oxygen towards aluminum surface. It was also observed that transition alumina polymorphs were stabilized in presence of water so that formation of α-Al2O3 was delayed and the particles were completely oxidized before the entire oxide coating was transferred to α-Al2O3. Finally, ignition of aluminum particles in water was observed to occur at much higher laser threshold powers compared to ignition of the same particles in air.

AB - Aluminum oxidation and ignition in water vapor and in mixed water/oxygen environments were studied experimentally. Oxidation experiments were performed using a thermogravimetric technique. Samples pre-heated to specific temperatures were also recovered and produced phases were analyzed using x-ray diffraction. Ignition was studied by feeding aluminum particles into a laser jet. The laser power was increased stepwise to determine the threshold power required for particle ignition. Oxidation of aluminum in water occurs in several steps, which is generally similar to the oxidation of aluminum in oxygen. A new oxidation step occurs at the aluminum melting point only when water vapor is present. This new oxidation step is shown to occur because of an unusual permeability of γ-Al2O3 for OH. Stressed γ-Al 2O3 was observed to behave as a semi-permeable membrane allowing preferential transport of OH but no oxygen towards aluminum surface. It was also observed that transition alumina polymorphs were stabilized in presence of water so that formation of α-Al2O3 was delayed and the particles were completely oxidized before the entire oxide coating was transferred to α-Al2O3. Finally, ignition of aluminum particles in water was observed to occur at much higher laser threshold powers compared to ignition of the same particles in air.

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77957838094&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:77957838094

SN - 9781563479434

BT - 44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit

T2 - 44th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit

Y2 - 21 July 2008 through 23 July 2008

ER -

Oxidation and ignition of aluminum particles in the presence of water vapor

Abstract

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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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