Superior spectral performance of decoy flares compositions via inclusion of graphite as a black body emitter

Abstract

Graphite particles can offer high interfacial surface area as well as high emissivity as black body; therefore it can find wide applications in advanced decoy flares. In the current study, graphite particles of 100 µm size, were employed with different reactive metal fuels including Mg, Al, and Mg-Al alloy. Different formulations based on graphite ratio up to 8 wt % were developed via granulation with subsequent pressing. Thermal signature was measured using IR spectrometer (1-6 µm) Arc-Optics. Composite flare based on Mg-Al fuel, and graphite demonstrated superior spectral intensity; this formulation offered an increase in average intensity by 83 % to reference MTV flare. In the mean time, composite flare based on Al and graphite offered the highest relative intensity value θ of 0.6. Graphite, as an allotrope of carbon, can act as an excellent source of carbonaceous materials; that can strengthen incandescence emission. Furthermore Mg-Al reactive metal alloy can offer novel synergism as Mg could vaporize at 1000 °C offering efficient combustion process. It can be concluded that tailored flare with customized thermal signature can be developed.