Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Processing and characterization of aluminum-based nanothermites

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the past several years, a significant effort has been on investigation of reaction front propagation and the rate of energy release in heterogeneous systems consisting of nanopowder reactants. Substantial size reduction of each reactant powder (e.g. from micro- to nano-size) leads to increase of reaction front propagation in some systems under unconfined conditions by approximately two to three order of magnitude. This paper presents key challenges associated with processing and use of nanothermite materials and characterization of nanoreactants. Reaction constants, such as activation energies and frequency factors were determined using DSC technique for several nanothermite systems based on nanosize aluminum and iron oxide, bismuth trioxide, and molybdenum trioxide. Experimental data of ignition delay times for different nanothermite systems using laser energy source were compared well to those predicted by proposed mathematical model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aumann CE, Skofronik GL, Martin JA. Oxidation behavior of aluminum nanopowders. J Vac Sci Technol. 1995;13:1178–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Prakash A, McCormick AV, Zachariah MR. Synthesis and reactivity of a super-reactive metastable intermolecular composite formulation of Al/KMnO4. Adv Mater. 2005;17:900–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gash AE, Tillotson TM, Satcher JH Jr, Poco JF, Hrubesh LW, Simpson RL. Use of epoxides in the sol–gel synthesis of porous iron(III) oxide monoliths from Fe(III) salts. Chem Mater. 2001;13:999–1007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Prakash A, McCormick AV, Zachariah MR. Aero-sol–gel synthesis of nanoporous iron-oxide particles: a potential oxidizer for nanoenergetic materials. Chem Mater. 2004;16:1466–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Blobaum KJ, Reiss ME, Lawrence JMP, Weihs TP. Deposition and characterization of a self-propagating CuOx/Al thermite reaction in a multilayer foil geometry. J Appl Phys. 2003;94:2915–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gavens AJ, Heerden DV, Mann AB, Reiss ME, Weihs TP. Effect of intermixing on self-propagating exothermic reactions in Al/Ni nanolaminate foils. J Appl Phys. 2000;87:1255–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang K, Rossi C, Tenailleau C, Alphonse P, Ardila Rodriguez GA. Development of a nano Al/CuO based energetic material on silicon substrate. Appl Phys Lett. 2007;91:113117-1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rossi C, Zhang K, Estève D, Alphonse P, Tailhades P, Vahlas C. Nanoenergetic materials for MEMS: a review. J Microelectromech Syst. 2007;16:919–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hao YJ, Tanaka T. Role of the contact points between particles on the reactivity of solids. Can J Chem Eng. 1988;66:761–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Brown ME, Taylor SJ, Tribelhorn MJ. Fuel-oxidant particle contact in binary pyrotechnic reactions. Propellants Explos Pyrotech. 1998;23:320–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Shimizu A, Saitou J. Effect of contact points between particles on the reaction rate in the Fe2O3-V2O5 system. J Solid State Ionics. 1990;38:261–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tomasi R, Munir ZA. Effect of particle size on the reaction wave propagation in the combustion synthesis of Al2O3-ZrO2-Nb composites. J Am Ceram Soc. 1999;82:1985–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Aldushin AP, Martemyanova TM, Merzhanov AG, Khainkin BI, Shkadinskii KG. Autovibrational propagation of a burning front in heterogeneous condensed media. Combust Explos Shock Waves. 1973;9:613–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Armstrong R. Models for gasless combustion in layered materials and random media. Combust Sci Technol. 1990;71:155–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Martin JA, Murray AS, Busse JR. Metastable intermolecular composite. Warhead Technol. 1998;179–91.

  16. Son SF, Asay B, Busse JR, Jorgensen BS, Bockmon B, Pantoya M. Reaction propagation physics of Al/MoO3 nanocomposite thermites. In: The International Pyrotechnics Society. The Twenty-Eighth International Pyrotechnics Seminar, Adelaide, Australia; 2001. p. 833–42.

  17. Wang LL, Munir ZA, Maximov YM. Thermite reactions—their use in the synthesis and processing of materials. J Mater Sci. 1993;28:3693–708.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Son SF, Hiskey MA, Naud DL, Busse JR, Asay BW. Propagation studies of metastable intermolecular composites (MIC). In: The International Pyrotechnics Society, The Twenty-Ninth International Pyrotechnics Seminar, Westminster, Colorado, USA, July 14–19. 2002; p. 203–12.

  19. Puszynski JA, Bulian CJ, Swiatkiewicz JJ. Processing and ignition characteristics of aluminum-bismuth trioxide nanothermite system. J Propuls Power. 2007;23:698–706.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Puszynski JA. Formation, characterization and reactivity of nanoenergetic materials. In: The International Pyrotechnics Society, The Twenty-Ninth International Pyrotechnics Seminar, Westminster, Colorado, USA, July 14–19. 2002; p. 191–202.

  21. Puszynski JA, Jayraman S, Carpenter G, Carpenter P, Bichay M. Formation and reactivity of nanosized aluminum powders. In: Proceedings of the World Congress on Particle Technology, Sydney, Australia; 2002, Paper 164.

  22. Puszynski JA, Bulian CJ, Swiatkiewicz JJ. The effect of nanopowder attributes on reaction mechanism and ignition sensitivity of nanothermites. Mater Res Soc Symp Proc. 2006;896:147–58.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Puszynski JA, Bulian CJ, Swiatkiewicz JJ, Bichay MM. Challenges in processing of aluminum and metal oxide nanopowders in water. In: Proceedings of Fifth World Congress on Particle Technology, Orlando, FL, April 23–27, 2006.

  24. Bulian CJ, Kerr TT, Puszynski JA. Ignition studies of aluminum and metal oxide nanopowders. In: Proceedings of the 31st International Pyrotechnics Seminar, Ft. Collins, CO; 2004, p. 327–38.

  25. Valliappan S, Swiatkiewicz JJ, Puszynski JA. Reactivity of aluminum nanopowders with metal oxides. Powder Technol. 2005;156:164–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Valliappan S, Bulian CJ, Puszynski JA. Investigation of Al-CuO nanocomposite reacting system. In: Proceedings of EUROPYRO 2003, vol. 2. 2003, p. 536–41.

  27. Perry WL, Smith BL, Bulian CJ, Busse JR, Macomber CS, Dye RC, et al. Nano-scale tungsten oxides for metastable intermolecular composites. Propellants Explos Pyrotech. 2004;29(2):106–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dimitriou P, Hlavacek V, Valone SM, Behrens RG, Hansen GP, Margrave JL. Laser-induced ignition in solid-state combustion. AIChE J. 1989;35:1085–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Puszynski JA, Bulian CJ, Swiatkiewicz JJ. Ignition characteristics of nanothermite systems. Advancements in energetic materials and chemical propulsions. New York: Begell House, Inc.; 2008. p. 73–86.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the financial support from DEPSCoR (Grant #W911NF-05-1-0310) and US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Contract #N00174-07-C-0013. The acknowledgment is also extended to Dr. Jacek Swiatkiewicz, Research Scientist III and PhD students: Lori Groven, Chris Bulian, Zac Doorenbos, and Alok Vats.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph St., Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA

    Jan A. Puszynski

Authors
  1. Jan A. Puszynski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan A. Puszynski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Puszynski, J.A. Processing and characterization of aluminum-based nanothermites. J Therm Anal Calorim 96, 677–685 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-009-0037-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-009-0037-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation