Infrared measurements of energy transfer from energetic materials to steel substrates

Energy transfer from reacting thermites placed on a v-notch steel target was evaluated for two thermite compositions which were Boron with Iron (III) Oxide (B-Fe2O3) and Aluminum with Iron (III) Oxide (Al-Fe2O3). A high-speed infrared camera captured a temporally evolving temperature distribution on the substrate as the thermite reaction self propagated. Results quantified the percent of the overall energy available from the chemical reaction that was transferred into the substrate and lost via other heat transfer modes. Results showed the B-Fe2O3 reaction transferred 53% of its heat of reaction into the steel substrate compared to 11% for Al-Fe2O3.