The Conversion of a Boron-Containing Pyrotechnic Mix to a “Ceramic-Like” Material by Electron Beam Interaction

The transformation of a boron-containing pyrotechnic mix to a “ceramic” vitreous-like material by the impingement of an electron beam on a boron-barium chromate pyrotechnic, in a scanning electron microscope, is reported. The thickness of the “ceramic”-like material is ×250 the penetration depth for the electron beam and indicates that a self-sustaining chemical reaction was induced by interaction of the energetic material with the electron beam at temperatures well below the mix's ignition temperature of over 1000 °C. This links with earlier observations on the low-temperature liquefaction of boron to boron suboxides in an electron microscope.