Peering through the flames: imaging techniques for reacting aluminum powders.

Combusting metals burn at high temperatures and emit high-intensity radiation in the visible spectrum, which can oversaturate regular imaging sensors and obscure the field of view. Filtering the luminescence can result in limited information and hinder thorough combustion characterization. A method for "seeing through the flames" of a highly luminescent aluminum powder reaction is presented using copper vapor laser (CVL) illumination, synchronized with a high-speed camera.