ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 30 August 2004
Page Count: 13

Investigation of Burning Aluminum in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres through Microanalysis Techniques

Suvorovs, T
Postgraduate Students and Senior Lecturer, Division of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD

DeWit, JR
Senior Engineer, Leslie Consulting Pty Ltd, Coopers Plains, QLD

Osborne, BP
Postgraduate Students and Senior Lecturer, Division of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD

Steinberg, TA
Postgraduate Students and Senior Lecturer, Division of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD

(Received 9 December 2003; accepted 2 June 2004)

Abstract

Promoted-ignition testing of 3.2 mm diameter aluminum rods in high purity oxygen was performed. The rod and detached drops of both self-extinguished and water quenched samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis to analyze the physical structure of the sample and gather compositional data. A comparison of the micrographs of self-extinguished and quenched samples reveals clear differences in the extent of melted and re-solidified (unreacted) material and the thickness of the oxide layer, highlighting the effect of cooling rate on the burning system. A qualitative physical model for the burning of bulk aluminum in gaseous oxygen is presented. The model, incorporating a molten drop growth and detachment cycle, is based on an initial heterogeneous burning phase leading to a second phase of combined heterogeneous and homogeneous burning.

Keywords:
promoted-ignition, aluminum, microanalysis, SEM, burning metal, oxidation

Paper ID: JAI12340
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12340
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