Pyrophoric foil and article, and pyrophoric technique

Abstract

Abstract Pyrophorically activated surfaces of metal foil or screen, prepared by diffusing into surface a selectably removable second metal that is then selectively removed as by leaching, can be covered with reactive or inert materials. Reactive materials such as easily ignited metals or carbon or decomposable chemicals increase the heat generated by pyrophoric action. Inert materials slow down or prevent pyrophoric action. Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape in which the adhesive is of the non-transfer or transfer types can be adhered to pyrophorically activated surfaces to slow down action or to adhere material that reduces or increases severity of pyrophoric action. Pyrophoric Ni can be preserved for many months in alkaline solutions such as aqueous KOH, NaOH and triethanolamine. Pyrophoric Fe is prepared and preserved in aqueous alkaline stannite. Even better preservation is obtained for Ni and Fe with glycerine, ethylene glycol, triethanolamine and propylene oxide. Both can also be preserved in inert gases such as argon. Addition of SnCl 2 or metallic Sn to caustic solutions used as leachant improves the pyrophoric uniformity of iron and also reduces the curling of thin foils. Foils with adhesively held combustable metal powder provide excellent pyrophoricity with long thermal life. Continuous processes for making the activated metals are illustrated, and the activated metals can be used to test for oxygen.

Inventors

• 👤 Alfonso L. Baldi

Bibliographic Details