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Morphology and elemental composition analysis by size of rocket particulate effluentParticulate samples collected on six stages of a quartz crystal microbalance cascade impactor mounted in an aircraft traversing the plume of a large solid-fueled rocket are analyzed, postflight, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersed X-ray (EDXRA). The results indicate the morphology and elemental composition of the particles fall into several distinct groups. Those larger than about 0.5 micron in diameter and nearly spherical in shape contain, among elements with atomic numbers of 11 and higher, only aluminum, suggesting they are aluminum oxide formed in the solid rocket fuel combustion. Still larger but less symmetrical particles contain only sodium and chlorine. Particles much smaller than 0.5 micron seem to end up as agglomerates after impaction (or during the impaction process), and show a complex elemental make-up of Na, Al, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Zn. The unagglomerated single particles smaller than 0.2 micron, on the other hand, show no evidence of elements above atomic number 11 at all, suggesting they may be carbon or hydrocarbon particles.
Document ID
19790031084
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Chuan, R. L.
(Brunswick Corp. Costa Mesa, Calif., United States)
Woods, D. C.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Va., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: In: Joint Conference on Sensing of Environmental Pollutants
Location: New Orleans, LA
Start Date: November 6, 1977
End Date: November 11, 1977
Accession Number
79A15097
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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