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Combustion of Black Powder. Part 1: Thermo‐analytical studies
Author(s) -
Hussain G.,
Rees G. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.19900150202
Subject(s) - thermogravimetry , combustion , differential scanning calorimetry , carbon black , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , charcoal , combustion products , chemistry , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , composite material , physics , natural rubber , engineering
An experimental programme is described, in which a number of thermo‐analytical techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG and DTG) are applied to investigate the combustion of black powder. The primary aim has been to investigate, and determine qualitatively and quantitatively, the nature of the solid products of combustion. Additionally, standard analytical techniques were applied, to a chemical analysis of the solid products, resulting from the electric arcignition of a sample of black‐powder, under ambient, open air conditions. The solid products formed 33% by weight of the unburned black powder, consisting of K 2 SO 4 (15%), K 2 CO 3 (11.5%) and small amounts of KNO 3 and KNO 2 . The DSC, TG and DTG analyses suggest a mechanism for the combustion, based on phase changes and transition stages of sulfur and KNO 3 , and their interaction with charcoal.