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Combustion Behavior of Highly Energetic Thermites: Nano versus Micron Composites
Author(s) -
Pantoya Michelle L.,
Granier John J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.200400085
Subject(s) - thermite , combustion , materials science , ignition system , molybdenum trioxide , differential scanning calorimetry , composite material , laser ignition , composite number , nano , particle (ecology) , aluminium , molybdenum , thermodynamics , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , physics , oceanography , geology
Combustion behavior of energetic composite materials was experimentally examined for the purpose of evaluating the unique properties of nano‐scale compared with traditional micron‐scale particulate media. Behavior of composite systems composed of aluminum (Al) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) were studied as a function of Al particle size, equivalence ratio and bulk density. Samples were prepared by mechanically mixing individual fuel and oxidizer particles and combustion experiments included measurements of ignition and flame propagation behavior. Ignition was achieved using a 50‐W CO 2 laser and combustion velocities were measured from photographic data. Reaction kinetics were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results indicate that the incorporation of nano‐Al particles (1) significantly reduces ignition temperatures and (2) produces unique reaction behavior that can be attributed to a different chemical kinetic mechanism than observed with micron‐Al particles.