IR imaging for combustion characteristics and optical properties of boron

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine if a new high speed IR microscope could be used to study the ignition and combustion characteristics of boron/boron carbide and to measure the particle emissivity as a function of temperature. Air heater limitations did not permit the investigation of ignition characteristics. Emissivity in the 2 - 5 fim band was measured as a function of temperature using a small boron filament. Data obtained using different IR band-pass filters resulted in significantly different results due to the apparent dependence of the emissivity of boron oxide on both temperature and wavelength. It was also found that care must be used to insure that the entire image is in sharp focus and that a means must be provided for measuring an accurate surface temperature.