Characteristics of ignition and combustion of titanium in an oxidizing medium under the action of CO2 laser radiation

A study was made of the characteristics of exothermic oxidation of titanium stimulated by cw CO₂ laser radiation. The kinetics of this reaction was complex because of feedback between the "chemical" and thermal degrees of freedom of the system and also because of a number of concomitant nonchemical phenomena. The influence of these factors on the kinetics of heating and combustion of titanium under the action of laser radiation is studied both theoretically and experimentally.