Thermite combustion enhancement resulting from biomodal luminum distribution

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2004

OSTI ID:977627

Moore, K M ^[1]; Pantoya, M ^[2]; Son, S F ^[3]

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1. Kevin M.
2. Michelle
3. Steven F.

In recent years many studies that incorporated nano-scale or ultrafine aluminum (Al) as part of an energetic formulation and demonstrated significant performance enhancement. Decreasing the fuel particle size from the micron to nanometer range alters the material's chemical and thermal-physical properties. The result is increased particle reactivity that translates to an increase in the combustion wave speed and ignition sensitivity. Little is known, however, about the critical level of nano-sized fuel particles needed to enhance the performance of the energetic composite. Ignition sensitivity and combustion wave speed experiments were performed using a thermite composite of Al and MoO{sub 3} pressed to a theoretical maximum density of 50% (2 g/cm{sup 3}). A bimodal Al particle size distribution was prepared using 4 or 20 {mu}m Al fuel particles that were replaced in 10% increments by 80 nm Al particles until the fuel was 100% 80 nm Al. These bimodal distributions allow the unique characteristics of nano-scale materials to be better understood. The pellets were ignited using a 50W CO{sub 2} laser. High speed imaging diagnostics were used to measure the ignition delay time and combustion wave speed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• OSTI ID: 977627
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-04-2949
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ALUMINIUM
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION WAVES
DISTRIBUTION
FUEL PARTICLES
IGNITION
PARTICLE SIZE
PELLETS
PERFORMANCE
SENSITIVITY
VELOCITY