Novel CaCO3-Based Material Formulation for Orange-Colored Spectrum Tracer Projectile

Abstract

This study underlines the development of orange-colored spectrum tracer material based on Fe/CaCO3/PVC compound. The optimum composition of the compound was determined by comparing three different ratios of Fe-CaCO3-PVC. The sample with the highest CaCO3 content decomposed earlier than that of the other samples. This sample also produced the lowest calorific energy around 275.61 cal/g and emitted a medium-dark orange spectrum. The color brightness was affected by the number of color source materials as well as CaCl2 and Ca(OH)2 which were formed during the combustion process. Meanwhile, the sample with the lowest CaCO3 content produced light orange color with a sharp spectrum emission. The concentration of fuel material (Fe) as well as the higher calorific energy (466.39 cal/g) of this composition contributes to the enhanced spectrum intensity. All samples emitted the orange color, with the wavelength ranging from 585 to 593 nm. Beside of calcite as the main phase, the x-ray diffraction analysis at 650 ℃ shows Fe2O3 as a secondary phase. The FTIR analysis of the as-heated sample presents the Fe-O bending band with a broader peak, which can be attributed to the existence of Fe2O3 species. The presence of this structure made all these samples have high ignition temperature. HIGHLIGHTS The tracer formulation contain iron, CaCO3 and polyvinyl chloride Iron fuel influences the thermal stability of tracer material The tracer composition emits orange-color start from 587 to 594 nm wavelength The highest spectrum intensity found at composition with containing greatest iron fuel GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT