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Combustion Characteristics of Silicon‐Based Nanoenergetic Formulations with Reduced Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity
Author(s) -
Thiruvengadathan Rajagopalan,
Belarde Gianetta Maria,
Bezmelnitsyn Andrey,
Shub Maxim,
BalasHummers Wendy,
Gangopadhyay Keshab,
Gangopadhyay Shubhra
Publication year - 2012
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.201100129
Subject(s) - materials science , silicon , ammonium perchlorate , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , combustion , chemical engineering , nanoparticle , raman spectroscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
This paper details the synthesis and combustion characteristics of silicon‐based nanoenergetic formulations. Silicon nanostructured powder (with a wide variety of morphologies such as nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanotubes) were produced by DC plasma arc discharge route. These nanostructures were passivated with oxygen and hydrogen post‐synthesis. Their structural, morphological, and vibrational properties were investigated using X‐ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption‐desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. The silicon nanostructured powder (fuel) was mixed with varying amounts of sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4 ) nanoparticles (oxidizer) to form nanoenergetic mixtures. The NaClO 4 nanoparticles with a size distribution in the range of 5–40 nm were prepared using surfactant in a mixed solvent system. The combustion characteristics, namely (i) the combustion wave speed and (ii) the pressure‐time characteristics, were measured. The observed correlation between the basic material properties and the measured combustion characteristics is presented. These silicon‐based nanoenergetic formulations exhibit reduced sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD).