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Project 8,2- Thermal Effects on Cellulosic Materials ~ W, L. Fons
OBJECTIVE
The objective of Project 8.2 was to expose various combustible

materials to the thermal radiation tron NEE (cx0x22)
to ascertain the level of energy at which the materials would ignite
and burn,
INSTRUMENTATION
Instrumentation consisted of specimens of materials exposed at ,

Yurochi (DOG) 35,000 ft and at Aomoen (GEORGE) 49,000 ft from planned
target zero,

The materials were white, gray, and black alpha-cellulose

paper, each of two densities and several thicknesses, newspaper, char- ~
coal-colored rayon cloth, blue cotton denim, dry grass, pine needles,
and corrugated Kraft fiberboard.

Also exposed were specimens of maple,

willow, and balsa woods to ascertain the depth of char produced in
woods of different densities by the thermal radiation from a megaton

weapon.
For exposure, the specimens were mounted in cylindrical metal

cells, 4 inches in diameter and 5 inches from the front rim of the cell
to the specimen,

The cells were mounted in metal boxes, half of which

were perforated so that the specimens would come to a high moisture

content in equilibrium with the ambient atmosphere, and half of which
were closei with a dessicant to keep the specimens at a low moisture
content.

The boxes were opened at H-15 seconds by EG&G signal, and the

cells were pointing at the expected point of burst on Namu (CHARLIE)
at the moment of explosion.

- COPIED/DOE
; LANL RC

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