Experimental Study of Oxygen Catalytic Recombination on a Smooth Surface in a Shock Tube

Abstract

The effect of oxygen catalytic recombination on various metal-coated surfaces has been experimentally investigated. The approach uses experimental results from shock-tube tests with an existing theory based on binary gas mixture to determine the oxygen catalytic efficiency. Surface heat-transfer rates at shock tube endwall were measured using a thin-film gauge. During the testing, the surface of the gauges was polished to a high degree of smoothness and maintained at near room temperature. Six different surfaces, coated with aluminum, iron, titanium, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. Prior to testing, the surface quality was examined using tools for microscopic and macroscopic analyses, thereby characterizing the initial condition. The present efficiency data are compared with the existing values from different facilities.