Preparation, Characterization, and Energetic Properties of Metallized Nanofibers
Abstract
Polystyrene fibers loaded with an energetic blend of nanoaluminum (n-Al) and perfluoropolyether (PEFE) were successfully fabricated via electrospinning producing a nanothermite energetic material. Fibers were generated with loadings from 6 up to 25 wt% n-Al/PFPE incorporated into the fiber. Microscopy analysis by SEM and TEM confirm a uniform dispersion of PFPE treated n-Al on the outside and inside of the fibers. Metalized fibers were thermally active upon immediate ignition from a controlled flame source. Thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) found no change in glass transition temperature when comparing pure polystyrene fibers with fibers loaded up to 25 wt% n-Al/PFPE. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed a shift in decomposition temperatures to lower onsets upon increased loadings of n-Al/PFPE blends consistent with previous studies. Flame propagation studies confirmed that the metallized fibers are pryolants. These metalized fibers are a recent development in metastable intermolecular composites (MICs) and details of their synthesis, characterization, and thermal properties are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA624976
Entities
People
- Keerti S. Kappagantula
- Michelle L. Pantoya
- Nicholas A. Clayton
- Scott T Iacono
- Sharon C. Kettwich
Organizations
- Texas Tech University