SEDL / STP / STP1197-EB / STP24856S

Review of Frictional Heating Test Results in Oxygen-Enriched Environments

Gunaji, MV
Principal Engineer, Lockheed-ESC, White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM

Stoltzfus, JM
Project Manager, NASA, White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1993

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Abstract

Friction is a known ignition source for metals and polymers in oxygen systems. This paper provides a review of the test results currently in the literature and an update of frictional ignition tests recently conducted at WSTF. Most of the results are presented in terms of the Pv product required for ignition (Pv^ign), where P is the normal load divided by the rubbing area and v is the relative linear velocity between the samples. Rankings based on Pv^ign are presented for similar and dissimilar pairs of metal alloy test samples. A comparison of the Pv^ign in liquid oxygen (LOX) and the PV^ign in gaseous oxygen (GOX) indicates that materials are approximately three to four times more difficult to ignite in LOX than in GOX. A discussion of the application of the data to material selection is also presented.