Prompt Formation Of Metallic Vapor Clouds

The thrust of the proposed program is on the use of highly exothermic solid state reactions also known as Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis (SHS) as a means of generating metal vapor clouds for military as well as for commercial applications . The proposed approach has an excellent chance for success because it is based on extending existing proven technology to include metals which would play unique roles in terms of "hard or "softN kill applications depending on their level of interaction with atmospheric oxygen. In the latter case sensor blinding can be achieved while in the first case serious damage/break up can be achieved by a multi- component fire-ball which includes hot reactive fragments as well as high temperature metal vapor combusting in air.