CO2 laser-induced combustion of ammonium dinitramide (ADN)

Three distinct categories of the laser-induced physical and chemical behavior of ADN were observed experimentally. The first category was laser-induced pyrolysis, which was characterized by decomposition of the material without stable regression of the surface. This behavior was observed at subatmospheric pressures and low heat fluxes (less than 50 W/sq cm). At or above atmospheric pressure and at higher heat fluxes, laser-induced regression without a flame was observed. The final category was laser-assisted combustion, which required pressures of at least 3 atm and heat fluxes of at least 100 W/sq cm to produce burning with a luminous flame. True ignition and self-sustained burning were not observed for any of the experimental conditions investigated. (AIAA)