Accession Number:

ADA545643

Title:

Mechanism of Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Sensitivity of Reactive Powders and Its Mitigation

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Sep 2007-28 Feb 2011

Corporate Author:

NEW JERSEY INST OF TECH NEWARK

Personal Author(s):

• Dreizin, Edward L.
• Beloni, Ervin

Report Date:

2011-03-14

Pagination or Media Count:

115.0

Abstract:

Electrostatic discharge ESD ignition of Mg, Al, and Ti powders is studied experimentally. Discharge energy is quantified by real time measurements of current and voltage ignition behavior of powders is studied optically. A fraction of ESD energy transferred to powder is determined for different experimental configurations. It is shown that powder heating by ESD is adequately described considering Joule energy produced by the ESD current. Powder heating occurs adiabatically. For titanium powders, particles struck by ESD fuse together readily, reducing powder resistance and respectively reducing its ignition sensitivity. The thickness of the powder layer struck by ESD affects the ignition behavior of powders substantially. For very thin powder layers, particle fragmentation is consistently observed.

Descriptors:

• *POWDER METALS
• *IGNITION
• ALUMINUM
• TITANIUM
• SPARKS
• SENSITIVITY
• MAGNESIUM
• ELECTRIC DISCHARGES

Subject Categories:

• Physical Chemistry
• Properties of Metals and Alloys
• Electricity and Magnetism

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE