Fabrication, oxidation, and combustion of nanoscale magnesium diboride and tetraboride

Molina, Andre; Camarena, Miguel J.; Shafirovich, Evgeny

doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.114759

Fabrication, oxidation, and combustion of nanoscale magnesium diboride and tetraboride

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2026 · Combustion and Flame

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.114759· OSTI ID:3011732

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Univ. of Texas at El Paso, TX (United States)

The difficult ignition and low combustion efficiency of boron particles decrease the performance of boron-loaded, fuel-rich propellants for solid fuel ramjets and ducted rockets. One approach to solving this problem involves the use of magnesium diboride (MgB₂), which ignites easier than boron. Magnesium tetraboride (MgB₄) offers greater energy density owing to its higher boron content. However, the effect of B/Mg ratio on the ignition and combustion is unknown. Additionally, while nanoscale MgB₂ particles and quasi-2D structures are promising energetic additives, the oxidation and combustion properties of nanoscale MgB₄ have not been explored. To address these knowledge gaps, the present work included synthesis and high-energy ball milling of MgB₂ and MgB₄ powders, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of their oxidation, and combustion experiments with thin layers of the obtained powders. Comparison of two synthesis routes (a solid-state reaction in a tube furnace and combustion synthesis) has shown that the former is the superior method for producing magnesium borides. TGA has revealed that oxidation of both MgB₂ and MgB₄ results in a high conversion into the oxides (88–91 %), far exceeding the low conversion of boron (62.5 %). MgB₄ begins to oxidize rapidly at a much lower temperature (∼900 °C) than MgB₂ (∼1200 °C). The burning rates of milled MgB₂ and MgB₄ are about eight and five times, respectively, faster than that of submicron boron. Magnesium borides exhibit a stable, sustained boron flame, needed for high combustion efficiency, whereas physical Mg/B mixtures undergo Mg-driven "flash" combustion.

Research Organization:: Univ. of Texas at El Paso, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0010429

OSTI ID:: 3011732

Journal Information:: Combustion and Flame, Journal Name: Combustion and Flame Vol. 285; ISSN 0010-2180

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (46)

Flux Pinning and Superconducting Properties of Bulk MgB₂ with MgB₄ Addition Miryala, Muralidhar; Arvapalli, Sai Srikanth; Diko, Pavel Advanced Engineering Materials, Vol. 22, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.201900750	journal	November 2019
Hydrogen Storage in Partially Exfoliated Magnesium Diboride Multilayers Gunda, Harini; Ray, Keith G.; Klebanoff, Leonard E. Small, Vol. 19, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202205487	journal	December 2022
The diversity of combustion synthesis processing: a review Morsi, K. Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 47, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5926-5	journal	September 2011
Advantages and drawbacks of boron-fueled propulsion Gany, Alon; Timnat, Yaakov M. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 29, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0094-5765(93)90047-Z	journal	March 1993
Ignition and combustion of boron particles Yeh, C. L.; Kuo, K. K. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 22, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1285(96)00012-3	journal	January 1996
Synthesis and properties of MgB2 obtained by SHS method Przybylski, K.; Stobierski, L.; Chmist, J. Physica C: Superconductivity, Vol. 387, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4534(03)00661-0	journal	May 2003
Ignition and combustion characteristics of molded amorphous boron under different oxygen pressures Liang, Daolun; Liu, Jianzhong; Zhou, Yunan Acta Astronautica, Vol. 138 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.05.019	journal	September 2017
Heterogeneous decomposition and oxidation during combustion of magnesium diboride particles Liang, Daolun; Xiao, Rui; Li, Heping Acta Astronautica, Vol. 153 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.10.026	journal	December 2018
Effects of Ti and Mg particles on combustion characteristics of boron–HTPB-based solid fuels for hybrid gas generator in ducted rocket applications Hashim, Syed Alay; Karmakar, Srinibas; Roy, Arnab Acta Astronautica, Vol. 160 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.04.002	journal	July 2019
Ignition and heterogeneous combustion of aluminum boride and boron–aluminum blend Liang, Daolun; Xiao, Rui; Liu, Jianzhong Aerospace Science and Technology, Vol. 84 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2018.11.046	journal	January 2019
Phase formation dynamics upon thermal explosion synthesis of magnesium diboride Kovalev, D. Yu.; Potanin, A. Yu.; Levashov, E. A. Ceramics International, Vol. 42, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2015.10.078	journal	February 2016
Nanothermite reactions: Is gas phase oxygen generation from the oxygen carrier an essential prerequisite to ignition? Jian, Guoqiang; Chowdhury, Snehaunshu; Sullivan, Kyle Combustion and Flame, Vol. 160, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2012.09.009	journal	February 2013
Boron doped with iron: Preparation and combustion in air Chintersingh, Kerri-Lee; Schoenitz, Mirko; Dreizin, Edward L. Combustion and Flame, Vol. 200 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.11.031	journal	February 2019
Combustion characteristics of magnesium borides and their agglomerated particles Guo, Yang; Zhou, Xing; Zhang, Wei Combustion and Flame, Vol. 203 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.02.003	journal	May 2019
Oxidation, ignition and combustion behaviors of differently prepared boron-magnesium composites Sun, Yalun; Ren, Hui; Jiao, Qingjie Combustion and Flame, Vol. 221 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2020.07.022	journal	November 2020
Infiltration-controlled combustion of magnesium for power generation in space Cordova, Sergio; Estala-Rodriguez, Kevin; Shafirovich, Evgeny Combustion and Flame, Vol. 238 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111950	journal	April 2022
On the oxidation kinetics of aging magnesium particles Oh, Juyoung; Lee, Yejun; Yoh, Jack J. Combustion and Flame, Vol. 249 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112597	journal	March 2023
Screening the thermal oxidation and combustion characteristics of boride particles: a comparative study Xu, Dunhui; Jiang, Yue; Zhang, Siyi Combustion and Flame, Vol. 280 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.114387	journal	October 2025
Combustion of solid fuels containing boron, borides, and boron based composites in a solid fuel ramjet Leuchtmann, Chase; Gallegos, Dominic F.; Young, Gregory Fuel, Vol. 371 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.132101	journal	September 2024
On the pyrolysis mechanism of Magnesium-Teflon-Viton (MTV) igniters subjected to seasonal aging Oh, Juyoung; Jang, Seung-gyo; Yoh, Jack J. Fuel, Vol. 389 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.134604	journal	June 2025
A study of solid ramjet fuel containing boron–magnesium mixtures Sandall, EricT.; Kalman, Joseph; Quigley, John N. Propulsion and Power Research, Vol. 6, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jppr.2017.11.004	journal	December 2017
Spectroscopic study of plasma during electrolytic oxidation of magnesium- and aluminium-alloy Jovović, J.; Stojadinović, S.; Šišović, N. M. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, Vol. 113, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jqsrt.2012.06.008	journal	October 2012
Electron energy-loss and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy of electronic structure of MgB4 Sato, Yohei; Saito, Taiki; Tsuchiya, Kohei Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 253 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2017.05.007	journal	September 2017
Structure and physicochemical properties of MgB2 nanosheets obtained via sonochemical liquid phase exfoliation Padhi, Santanu Kumar; Liu, Xiaolin; Valsania, Maria Carmen Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, Vol. 35 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoso.2023.101016	journal	July 2023
Superconducting properties of combustion synthesized MgB2 Takano, Yoshihiko; Oguro, Nobutaka; Kaieda, Yoshinari Physica C: Superconductivity, Vol. 412-414 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physc.2004.01.044	journal	October 2004
Oxidation and combustion of stabilized lithium metal powder (SLMP) Estala-Rodriguez, Kevin; Cordova, Sergio; Shafirovich, Evgeny Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Vol. 39, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2022.07.051	journal	January 2023
Review of synthesis of high volumetric density, low gravimetric density MgB2 bulk for potential magnetic field applications Zhang, Zili; MacManus-Driscoll, Judith; Suo, Hongli Superconductivity, Vol. 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supcon.2022.100015	journal	September 2022
Layered magnesium diboride and its derivatives as potential catalytic and energetic additives for tuning the exothermicity of ammonium perchlorate Gunda, Harini; Ghoroi, Chinmay; Jasuja, Kabeer Thermochimica Acta, Vol. 690 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2020.178674	journal	August 2020
Effect of powder characteristics on thermal oxidation of boron Momtaz, Mysha; McNanna, Jonathan L.; Schoenitz, Mirko Thermochimica Acta, Vol. 743 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2024.179917	journal	January 2025
Exploring the Thermoelectric Potential of MgB₄: Electronic Band Structure, Transport Properties, and Defect Chemistry Hachmioune, Sabrine; Ganose, Alex M.; Sullivan, Michael B. Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 36, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c00584	journal	June 2024
Magnesium-Enhanced Reactivity of Boron Particles: Role of Mg/B₂O₃ Exothermic Surface Reactions Ghildiyal, Pankaj; Xu, Feiyu; Rojas, Alex Energy & Fuels, Vol. 37, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c02347	journal	January 2023
Oxidation of Magnesium: Implication for Aging and Ignition Nie, Hongqi; Schoenitz, Mirko; Dreizin, Edward L. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 120, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b08848	journal	January 2016
Magnesium-Induced Strain and Immobilized Radical Generation on the Boron Oxide Surface Enhances the Oxidation Rate of Boron Particles: A DFTB-MD Study Biswas, Prithwish; Pham, C. Huy; Zachariah, Michael R. Langmuir, Vol. 39, Issue 39 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00982	journal	September 2023
Exfoliated Magnesium Diboride (MgB₂) Nanosheets as Solid Fuels Jiang, Yue; Ka, Dongwon; Huynh, Andy Huu Nano Letters, Vol. 23, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01910	journal	September 2023
Synthesis and Characterization of Magnesium/Boron Solid Solutions for Energetic Applications Agarwal, Prawal P. K.; Jensen, Devon; Chen, Chien-Hua ACS Applied Energy Materials, Vol. 5, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.2c00312	journal	May 2022
Interfacial oxidation of boron proceeds through a stable B₆O intermediate Wang, Jian; Zhong, Kai; Zeng, Xinxing Nature Communications, Vol. 16, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64797-x	journal	November 2025
Aqueous dispersions of few-layer-thick chemically modified magnesium diboride nanosheets by ultrasonication assisted exfoliation Das, Saroj Kumar; Bedar, Amita; Kannan, Aadithya Scientific Reports, Vol. 5, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep10522	journal	June 2015
Wavelengths and Energy Level Classifications of Magnesium Spectra for All Stages of Ionization (Mg I through Mg XII) Kaufman, V.; Martin, W. C. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Vol. 20, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555879	journal	January 1991
Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of advanced materials and coatings Levashov, E. A.; Mukasyan, A. S.; Rogachev, A. S. International Materials Reviews, Vol. 62, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/09506608.2016.1243291	journal	October 2016
Decomposition and Oxidation of Magnesium Diboride Guo, Yang; Zhang, Wei; Yang, Dong Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 95, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.04998.x	journal	December 2011
Thermal explosion synthesis of a magnesium diboride powder Rosenband, V.; Gany, A. Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves, Vol. 50, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010508214060057	journal	November 2014
Ignition of Metal Boride Particle–Air Mixtures Bulanin, F. K.; Sidorov, A. E.; Kiro, S. A. Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves, Vol. 56, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010508220010074	journal	January 2020
Reactive Composite Boron–Magnesium Powders Prepared by Mechanical Milling Liu, X.; Chintersingh, K. -L.; Schoenitz, M. Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 34, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B36315	journal	May 2018
Combustion studies of metallized fuels for solid-fuel ramjets Gany, Alon; Netzer, David W. Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 2, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.2514/3.22924	journal	September 1986
Dynamics of phase formation during the synthesis of magnesium diboride from elements in thermal explosion mode Potanin, A. Yu.; Levashov, E. A.; Kovalev, D. Yu. Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals, Vol. 58, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.3103/S1067821217040150	journal	July 2017
Preparation and Characterization of Boron–Magnesium–Titanium Ternary Composite Powders Wang, Yanjun; Yu, Yueguang Coatings, Vol. 15, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15070739	journal	June 2025

Similar Records

Fabrication and characterization of nanoscale magnesium diboride and tetraboride for propulsion and hydrogen storage applications

Conference · Sat Mar 15 20:00:00 EDT 2025 · OSTI ID:3011757

Fabrication, oxidation, and combustion of nanoscale magnesium diboride and tetraboride

Conference · Sun Jul 06 20:00:00 EDT 2025 · OSTI ID:3011758

Hydrogen Storage in Partially Exfoliated Magnesium Diboride Multilayers

Journal Article · Sun Dec 04 19:00:00 EST 2022 · Small · OSTI ID:1963673

Related Subjects

Boron
Combustion of metals
Propellants
Solid fuels

Fabrication, oxidation, and combustion of nanoscale magnesium diboride and tetraboride

Citation Formats

References (46)

Similar Records

Related Subjects