Ignition of Metal Boride Particle–Air Mixtures

Abstract

The critical ignition parameters of an air–particle mixture of promising energy-intensive compounds of MgB $$_{12}$$ , AlB $$_{2}$$ , ZrB $$_{2}$$ , and TiB $$_{2}$$ metal borides and the mechanical mixtures of initial components, which simulate the composition of compounds, are experimentally studied. It is established that magnesium borides ignite at temperatures much lower than those for boron, which indicates the active role of magnesium in the ignition process. For other borides, the ignition temperatures are close to those for boron, i.e., the governing factors are the diffusion of oxygen through a liquid boron oxide film and the oxide evaporation rate.