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This paper deals with the work carried out to dene new formula- We have to dene new formulations able to increase the IR
tions used to increase the infrared effectiveness of a reference smoke
effectiveness of the reference smoke producer composi-
producer composition. This pyrotechnic mixture is constituted by a
combination of oxidizing agents and fuels generating mainly carbon tion(3). This mixture is constituted by a combination of an
but also chlorinated metallic salts which are essential for camouage oxidizing and a reducing agent generating mainly carbon but
by combustion. First, for several compositions, the 35 mm and also chlorinated metallic salts which are essential for camou-
812 mm extinction coefcients are correlated to the proportions of
Magnesium and (Mg MgCl), respectively (determined by thermo-
age by combustion.
chemical computations with the Bagheera code). Then, to widen the To widen the range of the new compositions, we studied
investigations on smoke producing compositions, this correlation was the inuence of:
studied by associating two experiment designs, an equiradial matrix
and a Scheffe mixing matrix. We would point out that using this The magnesium ratio
experimental strategy makes both possible, the minimization of the The carbon generator by the addition of a new carbon
number of experiments and therefore the cost factor and the
generator up to 50% and
modelling of the results which allows to gain the properties of
potential formulations on the whole experimental eld. The binder up to the complete replacement of the refer-
ence compositions binder
1. Introduction
3. Experimental Field of Interest
In the military eld, some tactical operations need obscur-
ant materials to protect sites, vehicles and troop movements Ultimate values of each component ratio were dened
against enemy observations. (Table 1):
Until the end of the 70s, the aim of these screening Magnesium was studied between 15% and 30%, the binder
materials was only the camouage in the visible window. between 5% and 10% and the carbon generator between 60%
Nowadays, they must also be effective against observation and 80%.
means operating in the infrared window. Generally, these In addition, we studied how the effectiveness is affected
materials are fogs (droplet clouds), smokes (particle clouds) by the:
or solid particles dispersed as aerosols by explosion. Addition of a new carbon generator up to 50%, and the
Their effectiveness depends on several criteria: Use of a new binder up to the complete replacement of
Type and concentration of the screening material the present one.
Application process
Usage concept
4. Matrices of Experiments
These three aspects are interdependent and directly asso-
ciated with scenarios (denition of the tactical operation, To take into account this experimental domain of interest
type of threat), but also with the local atmospheric condi- we used a design methodology specially built to treat ve
tions. Today, on the international market there is a smoke parameters, the concentration of magnesium, two binders
generator dispersion system developed by the companies and two carbon generators. In fact, these ve parameters are
Giat Industries and Lacroix which has the capability of the formulation components and the appropriate experimen-
dispersing visual and IR screening materials. The objective tal methodology could make use of a Scheffe matrix.
of the study was to demonstrate if it is possible to increase the However, we prefered a two-stage approach because we
effectiveness of this munition in the infrared range. had also to take into account the relative ratios of carbon
generators and binders. First, relative ratios of binders and
carbon generators were optimized by using an equiradial
* Corresponding author; e-mail: m.vaullerin@giat-industries.fr matrix(2,4). Then, the component ratios of the composition
Minimum Maximum
Magnesium 15% 30%
Binder (Binder 1 Binder 2) 5% 10%
Carbon generator (GeC1 GeC2) 60% 80%
GeC1=GeC2 0 1
Binder1=Binder 0 1
5. Experiment Design
Figure 3. Representation of the experimental points (Equiradial matrix and Scheffe matrices).
Table 4. Experimental Results for the Scheffe Matrices at Points 1, 5 and 6 of the Equiradial Matrix
Identication Experiment GeC1 GeC2 Binder 1 Binder 2 Mg nMg=nCgr nMgMgCl=nCgr
number number ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %)
1.1 1 0.000 80.000 2.500 2.500 15.000 0.0110 0.0158
1.2 2 0.000 75.000 5.000 5.000 15.000 0.0092 0.0134
1.3 3 0.000 65.000 2.500 2.500 30.000 0.2484 0.2554
1.4 4 0.000 60.000 5.000 5.000 30.000 0.2290 0.2394
1.5 5 0.000 70.000 3.750 3.750 22.500 0.0903 0.1002
5.1 21 20.544 59.456 5.000 0.000 15.000 0.0199 0.0229
5.2 22 19.260 55.740 10.000 0.000 15.000 0.0116 0.0139
5.3 23 16.692 48.308 5.000 0.000 30.000 0.2364 0.2379
5.4 24 15.408 44.592 10.000 0.000 30.000 0.2212 0.2258
5.5 25 17.976 52.024 7.500 0.000 22.500 0.1051 0.1096
6.1 26 26.668 53.332 2.500 2.500 15.000 0.0295 0.0315
6.2 27 25.001 49.999 5.000 5.000 15.000 0.0186 0.0208
6.3 28 21.668 43.332 2.500 2.500 30.000 0.2349 0.2356
6.4 29 20.001 39.999 5.000 5.000 30.000 0.2237 0.2259
6.5 30 23.335 46.665 3.750 3.750 22.500 0.1142 0.1166
tions have been produced and the extinction coefcients PYRO-2=DSAM=DT=PYRO=EM=NT n 65=98, CBO=SP n
06=98=CGI (1998), Bourges, France.
measured in the 35 mm and 812 mm infrared range. They (4) R. Phan-Tan-Luu, D. Mathieu, and D. Feneuille, Methodology
were essentially higher than those of the reference composi- of Experimental Research, Study of Response Surfaces, Report
tion. The improvement of the screening effectiveness in the (Jan. 1983), LPRAI, Aix-en-Provence, France.
812 mm range goes up to 23%. (5) R. Phan-Tan-Luu, D. Mathieu, and D. Feneuille, Methodology
of Experimental Research, Experiment Matrices Applied to
Mixtures, Report (Jan. 1983), LPRAI, Aix-en-Provence, France.
8. References Acknowledgement
The study was carried out with the nancial support of the DGA
(1) STANAG 4400, NATO, Derivation of Thermochemical Values (DSA=SPART Contract no. 95.02.167).
for Internal Ballistics Computations 1st ed., June 3, 1993.
(2) NEMROD software version 3.0, LPRAI, MarseilleLe Merlan,
13311 Marseille Cedex 14, France.
(3) M. Vaullerin, Optimisation of the FIR 784 Smoke Producer
Composition, GIAT Industries Condential Technical Memo, (Received April 2, 2001; Ms 2001=031)