Ordered Packing and Efficient Aerosolization of Anisotropic Particles

The Army needs a process for the efficient packing and dissemination of nano and micro-sized disc or fiber based obscurants for the Warfighter to take full advantage of their superior optical properties. Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) will demonstrate a process for anisotropic obscurant particle alignment, chemical modification and compaction to provide for a highly efficient dissemination yielding enhanced Figure of Merit. During a Phase I program PSI will optimize simple process steps and tailor the chemical additive to enable enhanced dissemination. During the Phase I effort we will focus on the alignment, packing and dissemination of micro- and nano- fiber obscurants. We will include a chemical additive that will provide inter particle micro-turbulence during dissemination to enhance extinction and Figure of Merit. During the Phase I Option PSI will demonstrate enhanced dissemination of obscurant particles with a disc morphology. Prof. Chuck Bruce at New Mexico State University will assist with dissemination gas dynamics and obscurant particle characterization. Capco, Inc. will provide burster dissemination characterization technology for the PSI packaged anisotropic obscurants. The Phase II program will provide scale-up of the obscurant processing and expand the grenade testing.