Combustion and Ignition Studies of Nanocomposite Energetic Materials
Abstract
This final report summarizes the major contributions to the basic science of nanocomposite reactive materials and focuses on fundamental ignition and energy propagation behaviors. Nanometric aluminum (Al) fuel particles were examined with a variety of oxidizers including metals, metal oxides, halogens, and polymer binders. Some work was also pursued on other fuels such as boron (B) and manganese (Mn). New diagnostics were developed to resolve equilibrium as well as non-equilibrium reaction kinetics. These include new imaging diagnostics to resolve surface reaction through highly luminescent flames, new sensors to monitor heat flux and temperature from the hostile energetic material environments during reaction, as well as equilibrium diagnostics that resolve fundamental thermal properties of reactant formulations and differential thermal analysis techniques that enable identification of gas phase species. Results have shown (1) dramatically increased ignition sensitivity of nanometric Al particles; (2) enhanced energy release rates for fast heating ignition conditions; (3) new models that describe the mechano-chemical reactive behavior unique to nanoparticles; (4) new synthesis approaches that take advantage of reactive behaviors associated with nano-particles. Technology developed under this project is being transferred to our military collaborators in an effort to integrate these diagnostics into applications that exploit the benefits of nano-particle combustion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA545482
Entities
People
- Michelle L. Pantoya
Organizations
- Texas Tech University