Development of flexible, free-standing, thin films for additive manufacturing and localized energy generation

Journal Article · Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · AIP Advances

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4928570· OSTI ID:22492306

Clark, Billy; McCollum, Jena; Heaps, Ronald J.; Daniels, Michael A. ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory, PO Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415 (United States)

Film energetics are becoming increasingly popular because a variety of technologies are driving a need for localized energy generation in a stable, safe and flexible form. Aluminum (Al) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO{sub 3}) composites were mixed into a silicon binder and extruded using a blade casting technique to form flexible free-standing films ideal for localized energy generation. Since this material can be extruded onto a surface it is well suited to additive manufacturing applications. This study examines the influence of 0-35% by mass potassium perchlorate (KClO{sub 4}) additive on the combustion behavior of these energetic films. Without KClO{sub 4} the film exhibits thermal instabilities that produce unsteady energy propagation upon reaction. All films were cast at a thickness of 1 mm with constant volume percent solids to ensure consistent rheological properties. The films were ignited and flame propagation was measured. The results show that as the mass percent KClO{sub 4} increased, the flame speed increased and peaked at 0.43 cm/s and 30 wt% KClO{sub 4}. Thermochemical equilibrium simulations show that the heat of combustion increases with increasing KClO{sub 4} concentration up to a maximum at 20 wt% when the heat of combustion plateaus, indicating that the increased chemical energy liberated by the additional KClO{sub 4} promotes stable energy propagation. Differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis show that the silicone binder participates as a fuel and reacts with KClO{sub 4} adding energy to the reaction and promoting propagation.

• OSTI ID: 22492306
• Journal Information: AIP Advances, Vol. 5, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2015 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2158-3226
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADDITIVES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CALORIMETRY
CASTING
COMBUSTION HEAT
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS
FLAME PROPAGATION
MOLYBDENUM OXIDES
POTASSIUM PERCHLORATES
SILICON
SILICONES
SOLIDS
SURFACES
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
THIN FILMS