Near infrared spectra of metal / metal oxide particle systems and analysis with principle component analysis (PCA). Optimizing thermite systems

Near-infrared spectra of Al/Fe2O3, Ti/MnO2, Al/CuO and Al/ MnO2 thermite mixtures were measured and investigated using multi-variable methods PCA (principle component analysis). The spectra showed material-specific characteristics such as curvature and offsets of the spectra and it was possible to differentiate between the thermite mixtures and assign them to the types of material.