Thermal analysis for detection and identification of explosives and other controlled substances
US6773674B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/11
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention features methods and systems for detecting the presence of an energetic material in a sample in which the presence of the energetic material is unknown. The method includes the steps of: heating the sample; measuring heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment, e.g., by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and analyzing the measured heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment. An exothermal peak in the measured heat flow indicates the presence of the energetic material in the sample. The system includes a thermal measuring apparatus for performing the heating and measuring steps, and an analyzer for detecting the presence of the energetic material based on the measured heat flow. The invention also features methods and systems for identifying contraband materials (e.g., explosives and drugs) by measuring the thermogram (e.g., by DSC) of a sample to be identified and comparing it to reference thermograms for known contraband materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.