A TRIPLE QUADRUPOLE MASS-SPECTROMETER SYSTEM FOR STUDIES OF GAS-PHASECOMBUSTION CHEMISTRY OF ENERGETIC MATERIALS

A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQMS) system utilizing the coll ision-induced dissociation process has been constructed for studies of gas-phase combustion chemistry of energetic materials under various c onditions of pressure and incident laser heat flux. A unique feature o f the TQMS system is its capability to differentiate species at the sa me mass-to-charge (m/z) value and to identify chemical structures of t he gaseous species evolved from the energetic materials, through the r ecognition of the fragmentation characteristics of chemical functional groups in species. Two different settings for high and low collision energy modes were developed for the daughter mode of operation. A cali bration method at the two settings in the daughter mode was also devel oped for the quantification of the measured species. The TQMS system d eveloped also includes integrated vacuum system, quartz microprobes fo r gas species sampling, customized software for data acquisition and d ata reduction. Typical results are presented to illustrate the methods used to differentiate the measured species and to identify their chem ical structures.