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Investigation of the Thermal Aging Behavior of Pyrotechnic Tracer Composition by Spectroscopic Techniques Coupled with Principal Component Analysis
Author(s) -
Bekhouche Slimane,
Trache Djalal,
Chelouche Salim,
Abdelaziz Amir,
Tarchoun Ahmed Fouzi,
Benchaa Widad,
Benameur Sabrine,
Mezroua Abderrahmane
Publication year - 2021
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.202100019
Subject(s) - fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , raman spectroscopy , strontium , scanning electron microscope , analytical chemistry (journal) , principal component analysis , thermal analysis , materials science , chemical composition , chemistry , infrared spectroscopy , thermal decomposition , spectroscopy , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , thermal , environmental chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , physics , optics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , meteorology , computer science , engineering
This work aims to investigate the aging behavior related to heat of a pyrotechnic tracer composition (PTC) sample composed of strontium nitrate as an oxidizer and dual‐fuel of Mg and Mg−Al alloy. Fresh and thermally aged samples were examined using nondestructive spectroscopic techniques, namely Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained results showed that aging for 20, 40, and 60 days at 65 °C does not provoke noticeable chemical or structural changes, whereas, after 60 days, the changes are visible, and become more obvious after aging for 120 days. These changes are caused by the partial decomposition of strontium nitrate and the oxidation of magnesium, which are followed by the generation of degradation products such as Sr(NO 2 ) 2 , MgO, and Mg(OH) 2 . On the other hand, the applicability of FTIR and XRD associated with a chemometric tool, the principal component analysis, as a simple and useful technique has been also assessed to discriminate the spectra of the aged samples. It has been revealed that these combined approaches can be effectively used to recognize the main compositional and structural changes within the pyrotechnic tracer composition affected by the thermal degradation process.