Emission Spectra Excited in Metal Powder-Oxygen Flames

Abstract

A metal powder-oxygen burner has been designed and constructed for continuous operation. The spectra emitted by the aluminum-oxygen flame consist primarily of the electronic bands of the AlO molecule in the visible and a strong continuum extending into the infrared. Magnesium-oxygen flames are characterized by similar spectra. The usefulness of metal-oxygen flames for spectroscopic investigations is discussed.