Accession Number:

ADA021924

Title:

Propagation of a Chemical Reaction through Heterogeneous Lithium- Polytetrafluoroethylene Mixtures

Descriptive Note:

Doctoral thesis

Corporate Author:

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV UNIVERSITY PARK APPLIED RESEARCH LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Smith, Richard B.

Report Date:

1975-12-11

Pagination or Media Count:

129.0

Abstract:

An analytical and experimental investigation of the propagation of a chemical reaction through heterogeneous lithium-polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE mixtures was conducted. PTFE in the form of both solid rod and resin was reacted with lithium, these reactants being initially at room temperature and under a vacuum. The reaction sample was of cylindrical geometry with the PTFE located along the longitudinal centerline. The chemical reaction was initiated at one end of the sample, and the motion of the propagating reaction front was monitored by means of thermocouples located at the lithium-PTFE interface. A two-dimensional model was developed based on the assumptions that the reaction rate controlling process was the thermal decomposition of the PTFE, that the reaction products were in the condensed phase, and that conduction was the sole mode of heat transfer. The dimensionless form of the model was solved numerically, and the predicted reaction propagation velocities were in reasonable agreement with experimental results.

Descriptors:

• *SURFACE CHEMISTRY
• *LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
• *TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE RESINS
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
• COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
• THESES
• NUMERICAL INTEGRATION
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
• PLASTICS
• THERMAL DEGRADATION
• LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
• FLUORINE COMPOUNDS

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry
• Plastics
• Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE