Optimization of a Smoke Producer Composition by Experiment Design

Abstract

This paper deals with the work carried out to define new formulations used to increase the infrared effectiveness of a reference smoke producer composition. This pyrotechnic mixture is constituted by a combination of oxidizing agents and fuels generating mainly carbon but also chlorinated metallic salts which are essential for camouflage by combustion. First, for several compositions, the 3–5 μm and 8–12 μm extinction coefficients are correlated to the proportions of Magnesium and (Mg+MgCl), respectively (determined by thermochemical computations with the Bagheera code). Then, to widen the investigations on smoke producing compositions, this correlation was studied by associating two experiment designs, an equiradial matrix and a Scheffe mixing matrix. We would point out that using this experimental strategy makes both possible, the minimization of the number of experiments – and therefore the cost factor – and the modelling of the results which allows to gain the properties of potential formulations on the whole experimental field.