| Triethylaluminium | |
|---|---|
 |
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| IUPAC name |
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| Identifiers | |
| Abbreviations | TEA |
| CAS number | [] |
| PubChem | |
| EC number | |
| SMILES |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C6H15Al |
| Molar mass | 114.165 g/mol |
| Melting point |
−50 °C |
| Boiling point |
128-130 °C at 50 mm Hg |
| Hazards | |
| R-phrases | R14 R17 R34 |
| S-phrases | S16 S42 S45 |
| Flash point | −18 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
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Triethylaluminium or TEA is a volatile organometallic compound which is used in various chemical processing and as an ignitor for jet and rocket engines. It is a colorless liquid with melting point -50 °C, boiling point 128-130 °C at 50 mm Hg, flash point at -18 °C, and a characteristic smell. It is corrosive, causes burns, and is highly destructive to respiratory tract.
TEA is pyrophoric (can ignite on contact with air) and will ignite and/or decompose on contact with water, and with any other oxidizers.[1]
TEA is one of the few substances volatile enough to ignite on contact with cryogenic liquid oxygen, which makes it particularly desirable as a rocket engine ignitor. It also can be used as a rocket fuel, but has not been for any production vehicle.[2]
Thickened pyrophoric agent
Triethylaluminium thickened with polyisobutylene is used as an incendiary weapon, as a pyrophoric alternative to napalm, e.g. in the M74 rockets for the M202A1 launchers.[3] In this application it is known as TPA, for thickened pyrotechnic agent or thickened pyrophoric agent.
See also
- Triethylborane, used as an ignitor in the Pratt & Whitney J58 turbojet/ramjet engines.
- Trimethylaluminium
References
- ^ TEA Material Safety Data Sheet, accessed March 27, 2007
- ^ Clark, John D., Ignition! An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ, 1972
- ^ M202A1 Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon (Flash), inetres.com
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