Cold ignition of combustion-like waves of cryo-chemical reactions in solids

Citation
A. Pumir et Vv. Barelko, Cold ignition of combustion-like waves of cryo-chemical reactions in solids, EUR PHY J B, 22(1), 2001, pp. 71-77
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL B
ISSN journal
14346028 → ACNP
Volume
22
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
71 - 77
Database
ISI
SICI code
1434-6028(200107)22:1<71:CIOCWO>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Fronts of weakly exothermal chemical reaction may propagate in solids at ve ry low temperatures (4 K less than or equal to T less than or equal to 77 K ) thanks to a quite unusual mechanism, involving a feedback between the hea t produced by the reaction and the disruption of the solid matrix. In this class of phenomena, the reaction may be induced by mechanical constraints, without a large elevation of temperature. On the basis of a simple phenomen ological model, we investigate ignition of a propagating front by, initiall y (i) disrupting a localized zone of the solid matrix, or by (ii) introduci ng a temperature jump, leading to a thermal shock with strong temperature g radients. In particular, we show that reaction can be initiated by disrupti ng only a very small fraction of the sample. Applications to the problem of initiation of solid explosives by friction or shocks is briefly discussed.