From: Orionworks - Steven Vincent Johnson
That would suggest to me that a "triggered" portion of Titanium powder mixture would not be capable of oxidizing since the enclosure would be totally immersed within an inert gas mixture. That is not exactly the purpose of the argon (which is itself a catalyst). Titanium metal will develop a surface layer of titanium oxide that prevents chemical reactions. This occurs when it comes in contact with air, but also when it comes in contact with water. This reaction forms titanium oxide and hydrogen. Even if Mills does not acknowledge it, the titanium oxidizes by taking the oxygen from the water at the same time as a free hydrogen atoms drops into the energy "hole" created by that same reaction. Titanium, in effect, wants the "oxygen" much more than the water molecule wants it. And Mills does not want to impede this valuable theft by allowing oxygen in the air to supply the need reactant. Jones
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