Skip to main content
Log in

Cold ignition of combustion-like waves of cryo-chemical reactions in solids

  • Published:
The European Physical Journal B - Condensed Matter and Complex Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract:

Fronts of weakly exothermal chemical reaction may propagate in solids at very low temperatures ( 4KT≤77K) thanks to a quite unusual mechanism, involving a feedback between the heat produced by the reaction and the disruption of the solid matrix. In this class of phenomena, the reaction may be induced by mechanical constraints, without a large elevation of temperature. On the basis of a simple phenomenological model, we investigate ignition of a propagating front by initially (i) disrupting a localized zone of the solid matrix, or by (ii) introducing a temperature jump, leading to a thermal shock with strong temperature gradients. In particular, we show that reaction can be initiated by disrupting only a very small fraction of the sample. Applications to the problem of initiation of solid explosives by friction or shocks is briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received 26 January 2001 and Received in final form 3 May 2001

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pumir, A., Barelko, V. Cold ignition of combustion-like waves of cryo-chemical reactions in solids. Eur. Phys. J. B 22, 71–77 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011137

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011137

Navigation