This lab investigates the mechanisms of explosive vaporization and the thermophysical conditions under which a mechanical explosion takes place. The study of vapor explosions is related to development of an industrial waste-processing technique in which a water solution of toxic organic compounds is injected into a pool of molten iron. Thermal shock and the catalytic action of the iron chemically crack the toxic compounds into their harmless components. In a cryogenic simulation experiment, the interaction of hot water with different types of refrigerant is investigated using a light extinction technique. Another experiment injects water into a pool of molten tin and the system is imaged with a continuous X-ray source and digital imaging system.

• Riccardo Bonazza