Modelling the effect of humidity on obscurant performance
conference paper
New obscurant compositions are needed with a performance that is comparable to currently used compositions, based on environmentally benign ingredients, and with a low toxicity of the reaction products. A variety of compositions were prepared; small scale performance tests were carried out at 20°C and 35 or 60% relative humidity in a 2 m3 chamber volume and large scale tests in outdoor conditions. Also in-vitro toxicity tests were carried out. A difference in hygroscopic behavior was noted and the effect of humidity on obscurant performance is modelled for a selection of tested compositions. All three compositions generate substantial amounts of condensed products, referred to as primary smoke.
Secondary smoke generation (condensation of water/acid vapor) through homogeneous nucleation does not explain the experimentally observed humidity dependence of light extinction. Heterogeneous nucleation, however, seems a plausible hypothesis for secondary smoke generation.
Secondary smoke generation (condensation of water/acid vapor) through homogeneous nucleation does not explain the experimentally observed humidity dependence of light extinction. Heterogeneous nucleation, however, seems a plausible hypothesis for secondary smoke generation.
TNO Identifier
882104
Source title
48th Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer ICT Engergetic Material Reactivity and Modelling, Karlsruhe, Germany, 27-30 June 2017