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Conference paperTear GR, Proud WG, 2017,
Predicting the Optical Behaviour of Shock Compressed Dielectrics
, 19th Biennial American-Physical-Society (APS) Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter (SCCM), Publisher: AMER INST PHYSICS, ISSN: 0094-243X -
Journal articleWinter RE, Stirk SM, Harris EJ, et al., 2016,
A technique for studying the response of materials to high rate, high strain deformation
, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMPACT ENGINEERING, Vol: 97, Pages: 116-126, ISSN: 0734-743X -
Journal articleTorchio R, Occelli F, Mathon O, et al., 2016,
Probing local and electronic structure in Warm Dense Matter: single pulse synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy on shocked Fe
, Scientific Reports, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2045-2322Understanding Warm Dense Matter (WDM), the state of planetary interiors, is a new frontier in scienti c research. There exists very little experimental data probing WDM states at the atomic level to test current models and those performed up to now are limited in quality. Here, we report a proof-of- principle experiment that makes microscopic investigations of materials under dynamic compression easily accessible to users and with data quality close to that achievable at ambient. Using a single100 ps synchrotron x-ray pulse, we have measured, by K-edge absorption spectroscopy, ns-lived equilibrium states of WDM Fe. Structural and electronic changes in Fe are clearly observed for the rst time at such extreme conditions. The amplitude of the EXAFS oscillations persists up to 500 GPa and 17000 K, suggesting an enduring local order. Moreover, a discrepancy exists with respect to theoretical calculations in the value of the energy shift of the absorption onset and so this comparison should help to re ne the approximations used in models.
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Thesis dissertationNguyen TT, 2016,
The Characterisation of A Shock Tube System for Blast Injury Studies
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Journal articleSwadling GF, Lebedev SV, Hall GN, et al., 2016,
Experimental investigations of ablation stream interaction dynamics in tungsten wire arrays: interpenetration, magnetic field advection, and ion deflection
, Physics of Plasmas, Vol: 23, ISSN: 1089-7674Experiments have been carried out to investigate the collisional dynamics of ablation streams produced by cylindrical wire array z-pinches. A combination of laser interferometric imaging, Thomson scattering, and Faraday rotationimaging has been used to make a range of measurements of the temporal evolution of various plasma and flow parameters. This paper presents a summary of previously published data, drawing together a range of different measurements in order to give an overview of the key results. The paper focuses mainly on the results of experiments with tungsten wire arrays. Early interferometric imagingmeasurements are reviewed, then more recent Thomson scattering measurements are discussed; these measurements provided the first direct evidence of ablation stream interpenetration in a wire array experiment. Combining the data from these experiments gives a view of the temporal evolution of the tungsten stream collisional dynamics. In the final part of the paper, we present new experimental measurements made using an imagingFaraday rotationdiagnostic. These experiments investigated the structure of magnetic fields near the array axis directly; the presence of a magnetic field has previously been inferred based on Thomson scattering measurements of ion deflection near the array axis. Although the Thomson and Faradaymeasurements are not in full quantitative agreement, the Faraday data do qualitatively supports the conjecture that the observed deflections are induced by a static toroidal magnetic field, which has been advected to the array axis by the ablation streams. It is likely that detailed modeling will be needed in order to fully understand the dynamics observed in the experiment.
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Journal articleHaerendel G, Suttle L, Lebedev SV, et al., 2016,
Stop layer: a flow braking mechanism in space and support from a lab experiment
, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol: 58, ISSN: 1361-6587The paper presents short summaries and a synopsis of two completely independent discoveries of a fast flow braking process, one realized by a laboratory experiment (Lebedev et al 2014 Phys. Plasmas 21 056305), the other by theoretical reasoning stimulated by auroral observation (Haerendel 2015a J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120 1697–714). The first has been described as a magnetically mediated sub-shock forming when a supersonic plasma flow meets a wall. The second tried to describe what happens when a high-beta plasma flow from the central magnetic tail meets the strong near-dipolar field of the magnetosphere. The term stop layer signals that flow momentum and energy are directly coupled to a magnetic perturbation field generated by a Hall current within a layer of the width of c/ω pi and immediately propagated out of the layer by kinetic Alfvén waves. As the laboratory situation is not completely collision-free, energy transfer from ions to electrons and subsequent radiative losses are likely to contribute. A synopsis of the two situations identifies and discusses six points of commonality between the two situations. It is pointed out that the stop layer mechanism can be regarded as a direct reversal of the reconnection process.
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Journal articleRutherford ME, Chapman DJ, White TG, et al., 2016,
Evaluating scintillator performance in time-resolvedhard X-ray studies at synchrotron light sources
, Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, Vol: 23, ISSN: 1600-5775The short pulse duration, small effective source size and high flux of synchrotronradiation is ideally suited for probing a wide range of transient deformationprocesses in materials under extreme conditions. In this paper, the challenges ofhigh-resolution time-resolved indirect X-ray detection are reviewed in thecontext of dynamic synchrotron experiments. In particular, the discussion istargeted at two-dimensional integrating detector methods, such as those focusedon dynamic radiography and diffraction experiments. The response of ascintillator to periodic synchrotron X-ray excitation is modelled and validatedagainst experimental data collected at the Diamond Light Source (DLS) andEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). An upper bound on thedynamic range accessible in a time-resolved experiment for a given bunchseparation is calculated for a range of scintillators. New bunch structures aresuggested for DLS and ESRF using the highest-performing commerciallyavailable crystal LYSO:Ce, allowing time-resolved experiments with aninterframe time of 189 ns and a maximum dynamic range of 98 (6.6 bits).
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Journal articleJung A, Pullen AD, Proud WG, 2016,
Strain-rate effects in Ni/Al composite metal foams from quasi-static to low-velocity impact behaviour
, Composites Part A - Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol: 85, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 1359-835XMetal foams are used as absorbers for kinetic energy but predominantly, they have only been investigated under quasi-static load-conditions. Coating of open-cell metal foams improves the mechanical properties by forming of Ni/Al hybrid foam composites. The properties are governed by the microstructure, the strut material and geometry. In this study, the strain-rate effects in open-cell aluminium foams and new Ni/Al composite foams are investigated by quasi-static compression tests and low-velocity impact. For the first time, drop weight tests are reported on open-cell metal foams, especially Ni/Al composite foams. Furthermore, size-effects were evaluated. The microstructural deformation mechanism was analysed using a high-speed camera and digital image correlation. Whereas pure aluminium foams are only strain-rate sensitive in the plastic collapse stress, Ni/Al foams show a general strain-rate sensitivity based on microinertia effects and the rate-sensitive nano-nickel coating. Ni/Al foams are superior to aluminium foams and to artificial aluminium foams with equal density.
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Journal articleEftaxiopoulou T, Barnett-Vanes A, Arora H, et al., 2016,
Prolonged but not short duration blast waves elicit acute inflammation in a rodent model of primary blast limb trauma
, Injury, Vol: 47, Pages: 625-632, ISSN: 0020-1383BackgroundBlast injuries from conventional and improvised explosive devices account for 75% of injuries from current conflicts; of these over 70% involve the limbs. Variable duration and magnitude of blast wave loading occurs in real-life explosions and is hypothesised to cause different injuries. While a number of in-vivo models report the inflammatory response to blast injuries, the extent of this response has not been investigated with respect to the duration of the primary blast wave. The relevance is that explosions in open air are of short duration compared to those in confined spaces. MethodsHind limbs of adult Sprauge-Dawley rats were subjected to focal isolated primary blast waves of varying overpressure (1.8-3.65kPa) and duration (3.0-11.5ms), utilising a shock tube and purpose built experimental rig. Rats were monitored during and after blast. At 6 and 24hrs after exposure blood, lungs, liver and muscle tissue were collected and prepared for histology and flow cytometry.ResultsAt 6hrs increases in circulating neutrophils and CD43Lo/His48Hi monocytes were observed in rats subjected to longer duration blast waves. This was accompanied by increases in circulating pro-inflammatory chemo/cytokines KC and IL-6. No changes were observed with shorter duration blast waves irrespective of overpressure. In all cases, no histological damage was observed in muscle, lung or liver. By 24hrs post-blast all inflammatory parameters had normalised. ConclusionsWe report the development of a rodent model of primary blast limb trauma that is the first to highlight an important role played by blast wave duration and magnitude in initiating acute inflammatory response following limb injury in the absence of limb fracture or penetrating trauma. The combined biological and mechanical method developed can be used to further understand the complex effects of blast waves in a range of different tissues and organs in-vivo.
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Journal articleSuzuki-Vidal F, Lebedev SV, Ciardi A, et al., 2015,
BOW SHOCK FRAGMENTATION DRIVEN BY A THERMAL INSTABILITY IN LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS EXPERIMENTS
, Astrophysical Journal, Vol: 815, ISSN: 1538-4357The role of radiative cooling during the evolution of a bow shock was studied in laboratory-astrophysics experiments that are scalable to bow shocks present in jets from young stellar objects. The laboratory bow shock is formed during the collision of two counterstreaming, supersonic plasma jets produced by an opposing pair of radial foil Z-pinches driven by the current pulse from the MAGPIE pulsed-power generator. The jets have different flow velocities in the laboratory frame, and the experiments are driven over many times the characteristic cooling timescale. The initially smooth bow shock rapidly develops small-scale nonuniformities over temporal and spatial scales that are consistent with a thermal instability triggered by strong radiative cooling in the shock. The growth of these perturbations eventually results in a global fragmentation of the bow shock front. The formation of a thermal instability is supported by analysis of the plasma cooling function calculated for the experimental conditions with the radiative packages ABAKO/RAPCAL.
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Journal articleBurdiak GC, Lebedev SV, Harvey-Thompson AJ, et al., 2015,
Characterisation of the current switch mechanism in two-stage wire array Z-pinches
, Physics of Plasmas, Vol: 22, ISSN: 1089-7674In this paper, we describe the operation of a two-stage wire array z-pinch driven by the 1.4 MA,240 ns rise-time Magpie pulsed-power device at Imperial College London. In this setup, an inversewire array acts as a fast current switch, delivering a current pre-pulse into a cylindrical load wirearray, before rapidly switching the majority of the generator current into the load after a100–150 ns dwell time. A detailed analysis of the evolution of the load array during the pre-pulse ispresented. Measurements of the load resistivity and energy deposition suggest significant bulk heatingof the array mass occurs. The 5 kA pre-pulse delivers 0.8 J of energy to the load, leaving itin a mixed, predominantly liquid-vapour state. The main current switch occurs as the inverse arraybegins to explode and plasma expands into the load region. Electrical and imaging diagnostics indicatethat the main current switch may evolve in part as a plasma flow switch, driven by the expansionof a magnetic cavity and plasma bubble along the length of the load array. Analysis ofimplosion trajectories suggests that approximately 1 MA switches into the load in 100 ns, correspondingto a doubling of the generator dI/dt. Potential scaling of the device to higher currentmachines is discussed. V
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Journal articleProud WG, Nguyen T-TN, Bo C, et al., 2015,
The High-Strain Rate Loading of Structural Biological Materials
, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A-PHYSICAL METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Vol: 46A, Pages: 4559-4566, ISSN: 1073-5623- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 4
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Journal articleProud WG, Williamson DM, Field JE, et al., 2015,
Diagnostic techniques in deflagration and detonation studies
, Chemistry Central Journal, Vol: 9, ISSN: 1752-153XAdvances in experimental, high-speed techniques can be used to explore the processes occurring within energetic materials. This review describes techniques used to study a wide range of processes: hot-spot formation, ignition thresholds, deflagration, sensitivity and finally the detonation process. As this is a wide field the focus will be on small-scale experiments and quantitative studies. It is important that such studies are linked to predictive models, which inform the experimental design process. The stimuli range includes, thermal ignition, drop-weight, Hopkinson Bar and Plate Impact studies. Studies made with inert simulants are also included as these are important in differentiating between reactive response and purely mechanical behaviour.
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Journal articleAmpleford DJ, Bland SN, Jennings CA, et al., 2015,
Investigating Radial Wire Array Z-Pinches as a Compact X-Ray Source on the Saturn Generator
, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE, Vol: 43, Pages: 3344-3352, ISSN: 0093-3813 -
Journal articleMacdonald J, Bland SN, Threadgold J, 2015,
A fibre based triature interferometer for measuring rapidly evolving, ablatively driven plasma densities
, Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol: 86, ISSN: 1089-7623We report on the first use of a fibre interferometer incorporating triature analysis for measuring rapidly evolving plasma densities of ne ∼ 1013/cm3 and above, such as those produced by simple coaxial plasma guns. The resultant system is extremely portable, easy to field in experiments, relatively cheap to produce, and—with the exception of a small open area in which the plasma is sampled—safe in operation as all laser light is enclosed.
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Journal articleSwadling GF, Lebedev SV, Harvey-Thompson AJ, et al., 2015,
Interpenetration and deflection phenomena in collisions between supersonic, magnetized, tungsten plasma flows diagnosed using high resolution optical Thomson scattering
, PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, Vol: 22, ISSN: 1070-664X -
Journal articleJones DR, Chapman DJ, Eakins DE, 2015,
A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation
, Journal of Visualized Experiments, Vol: 100, ISSN: 1940-087XThe dynamic fracture of a body is a late-stage phenomenon typically studied under simplified conditions, in which a sample is deformed underuniform stress and strain rate. This can be produced by evenly loading the inner surface of a cylinder. Due to the axial symmetry, as the cylinderexpands the wall is placed into a tensile hoop stress that is uniform around the circumference. While there are various techniques to generatethis expansion such as explosives, electromagnetic drive, and existing gas gun techniques they are all limited in the fact that the sample cylindermust be at room temperature. We present a new method using a gas gun that facilitates experiments on cylinders from 150 K to 800 K with aconsistent, repeatable loading. These highly diagnosed experiments are used to examine the effect of temperature on the fracture mechanismsresponsible for failure, and their resulting influence on fragmentation statistics. The experimental geometry employs a steel ogive located insidethe target cylinder, with the tip located about halfway in. A single stage light gas gun is then used to launch a polycarbonate projectile into thecylinder at 1,000 m/sec-1. The projectile impacts and flows around the rigid ogive, driving the sample cylinder from the inside. The use of a nondeformingogive insert allows us to install temperature control hardware inside the rear of the cylinder. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is used for coolingand a resistive high current load for heating. Multiple channels of upshifted photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) track the expansion velocityalong the cylinder enabling direct comparison to computer simulations, while High speed imaging is used to measure the strain to failure. Therecovered cylinder fragments are also subject to optical and electron microscopy to ascertain the failure mechanism.
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Journal articleButler BJ, Bo C, Boddy RL, et al., 2015,
Composite nature of fresh skin revealed during compression
, Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, Vol: 4, Pages: 133-139, ISSN: 2045-9858 -
Journal articleWalley SM, Field JE, Biers RA, et al., 2015,
The Use of Glass Anvils in Drop-Weight Studies of Energetic Materials
, PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS, Vol: 40, Pages: 351-365, ISSN: 0721-3115- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 26
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Journal articleBurdiak GC, Lebedev SV, Suzuki-Vidal F, et al., 2015,
Cylindrical liner Z-pinch experiments for fusion research and high-energy-density physics
, Journal of Plasma Physics, Vol: 81, ISSN: 1469-7807A gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch configuration has been used to drive convergentradiative shock waves into different gases at velocities of 20–50 km s−1. On applicationof the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time current pulse produced by the Magpie generatorat Imperial College London, a series of cylindrically convergent shock waves aresequentially launched into the gas-fill from the inner wall of the liner. This occurswithout any bulk motion of the liner wall itself. The timing and trajectories of theshocks are used as a diagnostic tool for understanding the response of the linerz-pinch wall to a large pulsed current. This analysis provides useful data on theliner resistivity, and a means to test equation of state (EOS) and material strengthmodels within MHD simulation codes. In addition to providing information on linerresponse, the convergent shocks are interesting to study in their own right. The shocksare strong enough for radiation transport to influence the shock wave structure. Inparticular, we see evidence for both radiative preheating of material ahead of theshockwaves and radiative cooling instabilities in the shocked gas. Some preliminaryresults from initial gas-filled liner experiments with an applied axial magnetic fieldare also discussed.
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Journal articleZucchini F, Bland SN, Chauvin C, et al., 2015,
Characteristics of a molybdenum X-pinch X-ray source as a probe source for X-ray diffraction studies
, REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, Vol: 86, ISSN: 0034-6748- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 10
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Journal articleWinter RE, Cotton M, Harris EJ, et al., 2015,
Generation of ramp waves using variable areal density flyers
, Shock Waves, Vol: 26, Pages: 395-401, ISSN: 0938-1287Ramp loading using graded density impactors as flyers in gas-gun-driven plate impact experiments can yield new and useful information about the equation of state and the strength properties of the loaded material. Selective Laser Melting, an additive manufacturing technique, was used to manufacture a graded density flyer, termed the “bed-of-nails” (BON). A 2.5-mm-thick ×× 99.4-mm-diameter solid disc of stainless steel formed a base for an array of tapered spikes of length 5.5 mm and spaced 1 mm apart. The two experiments to test the concept were performed at impact velocities of 900 and 1100 m/s using the 100-mm gas gun at the Institute of Shock Physics at Imperial College London. In each experiment, a BON flyer was impacted onto a copper buffer plate which helped to smooth out perturbations in the wave profile. The ramp delivered to the copper buffer was in turn transmitted to three tantalum targets of thicknesses 3, 5 and 7 mm, which were mounted in contact with the back face of the copper. Heterodyne velocimetry (Het-V) was used to measure the velocity–time history, at the back faces of the tantalum discs. The wave profiles display a smooth increase in velocity over a period of ∼2.5μs∼2.5μs , with no indication of a shock jump. The measured profiles have been analysed to generate a stress vs. volume curve for tantalum. The results have been compared with the predictions of the Sandia National Laboratories hydrocode, CTH.
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Conference paperHare JD, Lebedev SV, Bennett M, et al., 2015,
Photo-ionisation of gas by x-rays from a wire array z-pinch
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Conference paperBurdiak GC, Lebedev SV, Bland S, et al., 2015,
Radiative precursors driven by converging blast waves in noble gases
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Conference paperCotton M, Chapman D, Winter R, et al., 2015,
Tailored ramp wave generation in gas gun experiments
, 11th International Conference on the Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading (DYMAT), Publisher: E D P SCIENCES, ISSN: 2100-014X- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 1
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Journal articleEakins D, Chapman D, 2014,
X-ray imaging of subsurface dynamics in high-Z materials at the Diamond Light Source
, Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol: 85, Pages: 123708-123708, ISSN: 1089-7623In this paper, we describe a new approach enabling study of subsurface dynamics in high-Z materials using the unique combination of high-energy synchrotron X-rays, a hybrid bunch structure, and a new dynamic loading platform. We detail the design and operation of the purpose-built, portable small bore gas-gun, which was installed on the I12 high-energy beamline at the Diamond Light Source and used to drive compression waves into solid and porous metal targets. Using a hybrid bunch structure and broadband X-ray pulses of up to 300 keV, radiographic snapshots were captured during various dynamic deformation processes in cm-scale specimens, thereby contributing to a more complete understanding of the evolution of mesoscale damage. Importantly, we highlight strategies for overcoming the challenges associated with using high-energy X-rays, and suggest areas for improvement needed to advance dynamic imaging through large-scale samples of relevance to engineering scenarios. These preliminary measurements demonstrate the feasibility of probing highly transient phenomena using the presented methodology.
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Journal articleSwadling GF, Lebedev SV, Hall GN, et al., 2014,
Diagnosing collisions of magnetized, high energy density plasma flows using a combination of collective Thomson scattering, Faraday rotation, and interferometry
, REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, Vol: 85, ISSN: 0034-6748- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 51
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Journal articleKanel GI, Garkushin GV, Savinykh AS, et al., 2014,
Shock response of magnesium single crystals at normal and elevated temperatures
, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol: 116, Pages: 1-9, ISSN: 0021-8979A series of magnesium single crystals, from 0.2 to 3 mm thick, were shock loaded in directions parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis of the hexagonal closed packed (hcp) structure and at 45° to the c-axis. Shock compression along the c-axis is associated with the largest Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) for this material. Microscopic observation of recovered c-cut samples demonstrated intense twinning with a greater density of twins near the impact surface. The low-energy basal slip was activated by shock loading along the inclined direction and has the smallest HEL. In all cases, we observe the decay of the elastic precursor wave and growth of the HEL with increasing temperature. For the inclined shock compression after the HEL, two plastic waves were found where the stress level of the first plastic wave depends on the peak shock stress. Finally, the largest spall strength was along the transversal direction and the smallest in the off-axis direction. The fracture surface of the sample of transversal orientation contains numerous groves oriented along the base planes of the crystals.
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Journal articleTunnell R, Ashcroft M, Dale R, et al., 2014,
Ammonium Perchlorate, Friend or Foe?
, PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS, Vol: 39, Pages: 707-713, ISSN: 0721-3115- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 2
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Journal articleTunnell R, Ashcroft M, Dale R, et al., 2014,
Ammonium Perchlorate, Friend or Foe? Part 1: The Influence of this Oxidizer on the Aging Behavior of Propellant Compositions
, PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS, Vol: 39, Pages: 504-510, ISSN: 0721-3115- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 3
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