SEDL / STP / STP1040-EB / STP24929S

The Pv Product Required for the Frictional Ignition of Alloys

Stoltzfus, JM
aerospace engineers with NASA JSCmechanical engineer with Lockheed-ESC, White Sands Test FacilityWhite Sands Test Facility, Las CrucesLas Cruces, NMNM

Benz, FJ
aerospace engineers with NASA JSCmechanical engineer with Lockheed-ESC, White Sands Test FacilityWhite Sands Test Facility, Las CrucesLas Cruces, NMNM

Homa, J
aerospace engineers with NASA JSCmechanical engineer with Lockheed-ESC, White Sands Test FacilityWhite Sands Test Facility, Las CrucesLas Cruces, NMNM

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

New and better metal alloys are needed to advance technologies in propulsion systems and associated hardware for aerospace activities. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration, White Sands Test Facility, developed a frictional heating tester capable of evaluating the ignition properties of alloys in oxygen under rubbing conditions. Sixteen alloys were evaluated in this tester and the mechanical energy (product of the contact pressure and surface speed) required for ignition in oxygen at 6.9 MPa (1000 psig) was determined for each alloy. Alloys that contained large nickel compositions were shown to have the highest resistance to ignition. The effect of coefficient of friction on ignition was evaluated and was shown to have a major effect on the ignition of alloys. The results strongly suggest that for environments where frictional heating is the dominant ignition source alloys must be selected based on data from frictional heating tests.