Burn Rate Studies of a Titanium-Based Ptrotechnic Smoke Composition

A pyrotechnic smoke composition producing titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) as one of the major reaciion products hasj been studied. The composition consists of titanium metal powder, hexachloroethae (C2CI6), potassium perchlorate (KCIO4) and titanium dioxide (TiO2)/zinc oxide (ZnO). PyrotFcHnic aluminium was added. in small percentages to tailor the burn rate. The effect of percentage variation of KClO4. TiO21 ZnO. titanium and aluminium on the burn rate has been investigated. While, the burn rate decreases as the percentage of TiO2/ZnO increases, it reaches a maximum as the percentage of KCIO4 is successively increased, but falls off on further increase. This maximum has been first fixbd by studying the tricomponent system containing no oxide. It corresponds td 25 per cent KClO4. Successive additions of C2Cl6 and ZnO in 1 :3 mol ratio or C2Cl6 and TiO2 in 2:3 mol ratio lead to cooler compositions that burn smoothly without much flame and at lower temperatures. (Compositions containing less than 5 per cent titanium is difficult to ignite. Similarly, addition of excess titanium or small quantities of alljminium to the composition is found to increase the burn rate.