Laboratory Testing of Magnesium Incendiary Bomb Extinguishers

Abstract

THE problem of combating incendiary bombs has engaged the attention of a number of laboratories in this country in recent months. Many different substances, few of which are satisfactory, have been suggested as smothering agents for magnesium incendiary bombs. The ultimate test of any of these substances is their behavior when applied to actual burning bombs, but much time and material can be saved by small-scale laboratory testing. Such laboratory tests have been confined, so far as we know, to fires set in small quantities of magnesium shavings or turnings. Our experience has been that the results obtained in this way are not comparable to those obtained in tests using actual bombs. Fires set in shavings are much more easily extinguished and in addition, the reproducibility of the tests is poor. The following simple method devised by us overcomes these difficulties. Approximately 1 ounce of magnesium, either as a solid piece or as shavings but ...