| The main objective of this research is to develop a method to detect smokeless powders (double-base propellants) using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS). The propellants have replaced the black powder, which is possibly the oldest explosive used today. The main uses of smokeless powders are in pipe-metal bombs, weapons, ammunitions, and muzzle-loading fire arms. In this work, Alliant-American Select, Alliant-Bullseye, and Alliant-Red Dot were the smokeless powders analyzed with FT-IR and IMS techniques.;Samples of propellants were analyzed using FT-IR (Equinox 55) using KBr (S) pellets. Other samples were analyzed using FT-IR (Nexus 470) with an Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory. Using this technique it was possible to identify and assign the characteristic IR bands for these compounds. The explosives were also analyzed with Ion Mobility Spectrometry. The IMS is a high sensitivity atmospheric pressure ionization technique in which organic molecules in the sample are submitted to collisions to produce ions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
