(487d) Microwave Stimulation for Throttling of Energetic Materials

While thermal and mechanical means are the most common approach to stimulate energetic components, alternative methods are also available. Laser ignition in both the visible and IR have also been used. In this talk I will discuss using microwaves (MW) to stimulate, and modulate the energy release process. Unlike surface stimulation of the bulk materials, microwave heating offers the potential to trigger energy release within the energetic spatially and temporally, thus enabling the in-operando spatially selective control of the throttling. We give examples of employing reactive microwave sensitizers, Ti and MnO2 to trigger the localized ignition of non-microwave sensitive energetic components. In addition we demonstrate that by embedding wires which can act as a microwave receiving antennas we can both initiate ignition locally, or alternatively accelerate the burn rate locally.