Kinetics and thermochemistry of the boron-fuelled pyrotechnic compositions BLC 190 and BLC 181 at their ignition temperatures

Abstract

Around 700 K, the pyrotechnic compositions BLC 190 (boron : red lead, 10 : 90) and BLC 181 (boron : red lead : chromic oxide, 10 : 80 : 10) undergo exothermic thermal decomposition reactions which follow first order kinetics.The reaction of BLC 190 is faster than that of BLC 181 but the energies of activation, z.446 kJ mol-l, and the heat output per unit mass of oxidant, PbjOl, z. 1000 J g , are very similar suggesting that the reactions of each of these formulations follow identical pathways.The product of the reaction from BLC 190 has been identified as lead tetraborate or a closely related compound.-1