Witte, Larry C.2022-10-062022-10-06197113810867https://hdl.handle.net/10657/12065A small diameter jet of molten metal was injected horizontally into a tank of distilled water, which acted as the quenching fluid. The four types of metal that were used as samples were mercury, Asarcolo 158 (a low-melting-temperature fusible alloy), an alloy consisting of 50-percent lead and 50-percent tin, and tin. The investigation demonstrated that neither a solidified shell nor vapor generation is necessary for a so called "vapor explosion" to occur. An unpublished theory that thermal shock is the causative mechanism of the "vapor explosion" is presented along with supporting evidence in this dissertation.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital