Light Production in the Aluminum-Oxygen Reaction

Abstract

The mechanisms of excitation of the continuum and the AlO spectra in the aluminum-oxygen combustion reaction have been investigated. Aluminum oxide is found to be excited thermally. The color temperature and intensity of the continuum are limited to the boiling temperature of Al2O3. In aluminum-oxygen photoflash lamps, the principal light emission is blackbody radiation from AlO and Al2O3 at or below 3800°K. It is concluded that the possibility of substantial alteration of the color temperature or intensity of the radiation resulting from this reaction is remote.