Magnesium as a fuel

To use potassium nitrate in colored flame mixtures, it is necessary to include magnesium as a fuel to raise the flame temperature. A source of chlorine is also needed for formation of volatile BaCl (green), or SrCl (red) emitters. The presence of chlorine in the flame also aids by hindering the formation of magnesium oxide and strontium or barium oxide, all of which will hurt the color quality. Shidlovskiy suggests a minimum of 15% chlorine donor in a color composition when magnesinm metal is nsed as a fuel [5]. 

Flare Systems , PATR 3839 (1969) (Limited Distribution) 5) B. Jackson, Jr et al, Substitution of Aluminum for Magnesium as a Fuel... 

Aluminum for Magnesium as a Fuel in Flares , PATR4704(1975)(AD A013360) 42)J.L. 

Dibutyl Magnesium, MgCCt. Ct. CI. CHj mw 138.54 clear, dk-amber liq a 20% soln in toluene ignites on contact with red fuming HNO3 was prepd by pptn of Mg chloride from butyl Mg chloride in ether soln with dioxans. This compd was prepd for evaluation as a fuel, or fuel additive in ram jets rockets Ref I.J. Schaffner P.O. Tawney, US Rubber Co March Summary Rept (1948), p 2 (Contract Nord 10129)... 

Firework flames of such a high temperature are obtained by burning compositions which contain an oxidizer and a fuel. An organic fuel, such as shellac or rosin, gives a temperature of about 2200°C to the flame, which is called the "low temperature class flame". Magnesium as the fuel gives 2500 3000 °C to the flame, and is called the "high temperature class flame". 

In finely divided form magnesium, both as pure magnesium and alloyed with 30 wt.% Al, has been used in military pyrotechnics for many years and has found numerous uses in incendiary devices and flares. In the form of finely divided particles, it has been used as a fuel component, particularly in solid rocket propellants. 

The electrons thus released pass around the external electric circuit to the air cathode where they are available for the reaction between water and oxygen to form more hydroxyl ions. The cathode reaction is exactly the same as for the alkaline fuel cell shown in Figure 1.4. The metal oxide or hydroxide should remain dissolved in the electrolyte. Cells that use a salt-water electrolyte work reasonably well when they use aluminium or magnesium as the fuel . 

Uses. Magnesium alkyls are used as polymerization catalysts for alpha-alkenes and dienes, such as the polymerization of ethylene (qv), and in combination with aluminum alkyls and the transition-metal haUdes (16—18). Magnesium alkyls have been used in conjunction with other compounds in the polymerization of alkene oxides, alkene sulfides, acrylonitrile (qv), and polar vinyl monomers (19—22). Magnesium alkyls can be used as a Hquid detergents (23). Also, magnesium alkyls have been used as fuel additives and for the suppression of soot in combustion of residual furnace oil (24). 

The recovery of vanadium from these slags is of commercial interest because of the depletion of easily accessible ores and the comparatively low concentrations (ranging from less than 100 ppm to 500 ppm) of vanadium in natural deposits (147,148). In the LILCO appHcations the total ash contained up to 36% 20 (147). Vanadium is of value in the manufacture of high strength steels and specialized titanium alloys used in the aerospace industry (148,149). Magnesium vanadates allow the recovery of vanadium as a significant by-product of fuel use by electric utiUties (see Recycling, nonferrous LffiTALS). 

Pyrotechnic mixtures may also contain additional components that are added to modify the bum rate, enhance the pyrotechnic effect, or serve as a binder to maintain the homogeneity of the blended mixture and provide mechanical strength when the composition is pressed or consoHdated into a tube or other container. These additional components may also function as oxidizers or fuels in the composition, and it can be anticipated that the heat output, bum rate, and ignition sensitivity may all be affected by the addition of another component to a pyrotechnic composition. An example of an additional component is the use of a catalyst, such as iron oxide, to enhance the decomposition rate of ammonium perchlorate. Diatomaceous earth or coarse sawdust may be used to slow up the bum rate of a composition, or magnesium carbonate (an acid neutralizer) may be added to help stabilize mixtures that contain an acid-sensitive component such as potassium chlorate. Binders include such materials as dextrin (partially hydrolyzed starch), various gums, and assorted polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol), epoxies, and polyesters. Polybutadiene mbber binders are widely used as fuels and binders in the soHd propellant industry. The production of colored flames is enhanced by the presence of chlorine atoms in the pyrotechnic flame, so chlorine donors such as poly(vinyl chloride) or chlorinated mbber are often added to color-producing compositions, where they also serve as fuels. 

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