Proposal and Demonstration of a Novel Technique for Decomposing Deleterious Organic Compounds by Shock Compression

Takuma Endo*, Daisuke Yahata**,*** and Toshitaka Fujiwara**
* Center for Integrated Research in Science and Engineering, Nagoya University
** Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University
*** Present address: Toray Industries, Inc.
+ Correspondence should be addressed to Takuma Endo:
(Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-city 464-8603 Japan)

Abstract
We describe the principle behind and demonstrate a novel technique for decomposing deleterious solid-state organic compounds by shock compression. The target to be decomposed is first enclosed by a container made of high-shock-impedance material, and collided with a high-speed projectile. By this high-speed collision, the target is shock-compressed at high pressure such that the target material is chemically decomposed very quickly. In order to demonstrate feasibility of this new technique, decomposition experiments using 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene as the target material to be decomposed were successfully carried out. In the experiments, we also investigated the dependence of decomposition rate on container-wall thickness. It was found that decomposition rate strongly depends on container-wall thickness. The measured dependence was qualitatively understood according to hydrodynamic laws, and was consistent with the original principle behind this technique.

Key words: deleterious organic compounds, decomposition, high-speed collision, shock compression