Filtration Combustion of an Energetic Material in a Cocurrent Flow of Its Combustion Products. Critical Combustion Conditions

The paper reports results of a numerical calculation using the threetemperature model developed previously by the authors. In addition to the temperature difference between the gas and the solid phase (skeleton), the model approximately takes into account the temperature distribution in skeleton elements. It is shown that quenching is possible (after burnout of part of the charge) with variation in a number of input parameters: the thermal conductivity of the charge, the ignition temperature, the weight of the igniter, the initial temperature, the porosity of the charge, and the local rate of its decomposition.     

Initiation of the Decomposition of a Semi-Transparent Mixture of Energetic Materials

In this paper, we propose a model for the heating and decomposition of a binary mixture of energetic materials by a short laser pulse which takes into account melting and the formation of a two-phase zone and the decomposition reaction of the individual components of the mixture. A binary solution of furazanotetrazine-dioxide (C₂N₆O₃) and dinitrazapentane (C₃H₈N₄O₄) was studied as a model system. The pressure change in the reaction zone was calculated, and the effect of pressure on the rate of decomposition reactions was examined. Numerical investigations were performed to study the dynamics of the process and determine the main stages of the process: melting, the propagation of reaction zones in the mixture, the rapid development of an explosion or the termination of reactions, depending on the amount of stored energy. The influence of the optical properties of the mixture on the initiation dynamics was demonstrated.     

Combustion of model compositions based on furazanotetrazine dioxide and dinitrodiazapentane. I. Binary systems

The combustion behavior of high-energy systems based on furazano[3,4-e]tetrazine-4,6-dioxide and 2,4-dinitro-2,4-diazapentane with metal and energetic additives (Al, AlH₃ ammonium perchlorate, ammonium dinitramide, and HMX) has been studied. The burning rate, combustion stability, and characteristic combustion temperatures with pressure variation are estimated. It is found that there is a critical burning rate above which a deflagration-to-explosion transition occurs. The critical conditions depend on the formulation of the compositions.     

Experimental behaviour of the reverse channel joint component at elevated and ambient temperatures

The reverse channel connection appears to have the best combination of desirable features under fire loading: moderate construction cost, ability to develop catenary action and extremely high ductility through deformation of the web channel (Ding and Wang, 2007). This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of a reverse channel component conducted at the University of Coimbra as part of the European RFCS COMPFIRE Project, the main focus of which is to characterise the behaviour of steel joints that connect steel beams to concrete-filled tubular columns under natural fire loading. A series of tensile and compressive tests at ambient and elevated temperatures was conducted. The purposes of the experimental tests were to characterise the strength, stiffness and ductility of this joint component and to establish a relationship between force, displacement and temperature.     

Economic geology value of oil shale deposits: Ethiopia (Tigray) and Jordan

Oil shale is an organic-rich, fine-grained sedimentary rock, containing kerogen, from which liquid hydrocarbons (called shale oil) can be produced. The oil shale deposits in the Tigray region are found in the northern parts of Ethiopia, Eastern Africa. They are of Upper Paleozoic in age, existing as remnants of the Cretaceous erosion period, underlain by tillites and overlain by sandstones. They were formed during the glacial retreat followed by marine deposition of shales in a basin created by the enormous load of the glaciers. The Ethiopian-Tigray oil shale deposits cover an area extending over approximately 30 km², with an average mineable bed-thickness of 55 m, showing on the upper part inter-beds and laminations of shaley limestones. The oil shale resources in this region are estimated to be approximately 4 billion tonnes. The exploitation of the Ethiopian-Tigray oil shale deposits is an excellent alternative to fulfill the fuel and other petroleum products’ demand of Ethiopia. This study sheds light on the oil shale resources in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, as they are fairly investigated, regarding their geological characterization, and future strategies for their exploration and exploitation potential. In addition, the oil shale deposits in Jordan are also moderately investigated, as Jordan is considered a promising country for shale oil, taking into account that Jordan has no other hydrocarbon resources (such as crude oil and natural gas), unlike many other countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, as MENA sets on “seas” of oil and natural gas. Furthermore, oil shale in the USA is also briefly investigated, as the USA is being the world’s largest country of oil shale resources and reserves. Also, some other issues related to the oil shale industry are investigated, such as economics, extraction technologies of shale oil, and the environmental impacts.     

Searching for ways to create energetic materials based on polynitrogen compounds (review)

Polynitrogen compounds (containing only nitrogen atoms) are promising candidates as energetic materials for rocket engineering. The high energy content of these compounds is due to the significant difference in bond energy between nitrogen atoms. In particular, molecular nitrogen (N₂) is characterized by a uniquely strong triple bond — 229 kcal/mole, whereas the single-bond energy is only 38.4 kcal/mole. From theoretical estimates, use of polynitrogen compounds can provide a specific impulse of 350–500 sec with material density in a range of 2.0–3.9 g/cm³. This paper gives a brief review of the current status of experimental and theoretical studies in the chemistry of polynitrogen compounds.     

Laser initiation of crystallized mixtures of furazanotetrazine dioxide and dinitrodiazapentane

Experiments were performed to determine the threshold laser pulse energy density resulting in explosive transformation of the mixtures studied. The experiments showed the possibility of using the laser initiation technique for rapid testing of mixtures of variable composition and structure.     

Adsorption,Electrokinetic and Stabilizing Properties of the Guar Gum/Surfactant/Alumina System

The adsorption of non‐ionic polysaccharide guar gum (GG) in the presence of surfactants (anionic SDS, non‐ionic TX‐100, cationic CTAB and their equimolar mixtures) from their NaCl solutions onto an alumina surface (Al₂O₃) was studied spectrophotometrically. This study is important in light of the many disagreements concerning the structure and behaviour of mixtures containing polymers and surfactants at the surface of an adsorbent. The presence of surfactant caused an increase in the GG adsorption in all studied systems as a consequence of the formation of complexes. Among the single surfactants the highest increase in the GG adsorption was observed in the presence of CTAB. However, the usage of mixtures of the surfactants caused a much more effective increase in the GG adsorption on the alumina surface because of the synergistic effect of the surfactants. In order to get some information on the structure of the electrical double layer (edl), the surface charge density of alumina was determined and zeta potential measurements were conducted. The obtained data showed that the adsorption of GG or GG/surfactant complexes on the metal oxide surface strongly influences a diffused part of the edl, whereas a compact part of the edl is not affected. The colloidal stability of the alumina suspensions was measured in the presence and absence of GG and surfactants. It was found that GG and the mixtures of GG and surfactants can improve the stability of the suspensions.