Aluminum surface-film growth in Al/Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ thermites during accelerated aging

Technical Report · Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5040863

Wang, P S; Haws, L D

The aluminum and iron oxide surfaces of Al/Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ thermite in powder and pressed pellet form were studied before and after accelerated aging at 180/sup 0/C by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ surface film thicknesses on Al metal were deduced from the intensity ratio of Al KLL Auger signals induced by x-ray radiation on Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and Al metal. Based on the mean free path of 16.5A for Al KLL Auger electrons, the oxide thickness on aluminum flake before mixing with Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ was estimated to be 8-9 A. A slight oxidation was observed on the aluminum surface after mixing with Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ at room temperature. Hot pressing this mixture at 425/sup 0/C for 7 min increased the oxide film to 31 A. This surface oxide film seemed to protect the Al metal and further aging at 180/sup 0/C produced no significant oxide growth. A layer of carboxylate was detected on the aluminum surface from the C ls XPS signal. The presence of an Fe 2p/sub 3/2/ signal indicated the presence of Fe/sup +2/ and Fe/sup +3/. A weak hydroxyl signal was also observed; this was attributed to slight moisture contamination of the Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ surface. 7 figs, 3 tables.

• Research Organization: Mound Facility, Miamisburg, OH (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00053
• OSTI ID: 5040863
• Report Number(s): MLM-2971; ON: DE82021903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
THERMITE PROCESS
IRON OXIDES
AGING
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
BINARY MIXTURES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FILMS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOT PRESSING
OXIDATION
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACES
THICKNESS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DIMENSIONS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
FABRICATION
INFORMATION
IRON COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS WORKING
MIXTURES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRESSING
REDUCTION
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
400201* - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
450100 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
360105 - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion