Comparison of combustion products of bulk aluminum rods burning in high pressure oxygen in normal and reduced gravity

The burning of materials in reduced gravity has been shown to differ in many ways from burning reactions in normal gravity. In this paper, the characterization of combustion products formed from the burning of aluminum rods in high pressure oxygen was investigated in normal and reduced gravity regimes. This characterization is limited to the particle size distribution and the morphology of particles formed during the reaction because these parameters can be useful for fire prevention, fire detection, and fire suppression systems. Pressures of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) and 800 psi (5.52 MPa) were used in this study. Particle size distributions were found to be wider and to have a higher mean particle size in normal gravity and under lower pressures. Particles were spherical and were categorized by diameter and outer surface morphology. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze collected particles.