Fullerene Derivatives and Aluminum-based Nanothermites as Potential New Ammunition Primers

Abstract

The possibility to ignite a material with a low-energy irradiation is very interesting and may have applications in the ignition systems of gunpowder. In 2002, it was demonstrated that certain types of carbon nanotubes (SWNT) could burn by simple exposure to a conventional photographic flash. Then in 2010, it has been shown that derivatives of fullerene (Csub60) can be heated to the point of ignition by laser irradiation of low intensity. The ignition is achieved by irradiation in the near infrared (785 nm) as well as green light (540.5 nm) and blue light (488 nm) at intensities as low as 100W/cmsup2), The fullerene derivative compound that appeared to be the most attractive was polyhydreoxyfullerene Csub60(OH)subn or fullerenol. The company BuckyUSA commercializes fullerenes and fullerenol. The cost of 10 grams of the Csub60 fullerene is 250.00 USD while the derivative fullerenol marketed with the molecular formula Csub60(OH)sub18-22 is much more costly at 1000.00 USD for 1 gram thus 40 times more expensive. Was acquired 1 gram of fullerenol Csub60(OH)sub18-22 for its characterization and to perform some ignition tests and 10 grams of fullerene Csub60 to develop a methodology for the production of fullerenol at a lower cost.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
AD1016921

Entities

People

  • Daniel Chamberland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Bismuth Oxides
  • Burning Rate
  • Carbon Nanotubes
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Energetic Materials
  • Fullerenes
  • Ignition
  • Laser Ignition Systems
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Oxides
  • Nanoparticles
  • Oxidation
  • Particle Size
  • Particles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Chemistry (specifically Chemical Fluorescence)
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy