Fate and effects of trace particulate explosives

In this work we deposit particles of explosives by different techniques including sieving, inkjetting, and pipetting and monitor their sublimation by photo/video-microscopy. We compare and contrast the effect of deposition technique on particle fabrication and subsequent sublimation or related effects influencing particle lifetime. Analysis of 2D microscopic images is used to compute and track particle size and geometrical characteristics as functions of time and experimental test conditions. In this preliminary work a limited set of test conditions were used including variable airflow rates and fixed humidity, temperature and substrate type.

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