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SUMMARY:UK MoD Ignition Studies Towards Large Calibre Gun System Applicati
 ons - Dr M J Taylor\, QinetiQ\, Fort Halstead\, Kent
DTSTART:20070125T160000Z
DTEND:20070125T170000Z
UID:TALK6306@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Stephen Walley
DESCRIPTION:The UK\, along with French\, German and Swedish governments ha
 ve embarked on an extensive research programme to investigate ignition phe
 nomena related to military gun applications. Of particular interest is the
  ignition of new insensitive propellant compositions\, which are being des
 igned to bring benefits in terms of platform survivability in the event of
  a penetrative attack on the charge stowage area. The use of electrotherma
 l plasma has been considered as an option for advanced igniter solutions. 
 However\, the technical complexity of these systems currently outweighs th
 e benefits. A UK study of the interaction between the plasma and the energ
 etic propellant material has highlighted some important energy transfer me
 chanisms which have hitherto been overlooked. These exchange mechanisms ma
 y allow the use of binary thermite powders to emulate electrothermal plasm
 a but at a much reduced level of technical complexity. This lecture presen
 ts the underlying theories recently developed to explain the plasma/propel
 lant interaction and cutting-edge work towards development of new thermite
  igniters.
LOCATION:Mott Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory\, Department of Physics
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