Desensitizing nano powders to electrostatic discharge ignition

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Electrostatics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elstat.2015.05.008· OSTI ID:1184719

Steelman, Ryan ^[1]; Clark, Billy ^[1]; Pantoya, Michelle L. ^[1]; Heaps, Ronald J. ^[2]; Daniels, Michael A. ^[2]

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1. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a main cause for ignition in powder media ranging from grain silos to fireworks. Nanoscale particles are orders of magnitude more ESD ignition sensitive than their micron scale counterparts. This study shows that at least 13 vol. % carbon nanotubes (CNT) added to nano-aluminum and nano-copper oxide particles (nAl + CuO) eliminates ESD ignition sensitivity. The CNT act as a conduit for electric energy and directs electric charge through the powder to desensitize the reactive mixture to ignition. For nanoparticles, the required CNT concentration for desensitizing ESD ignition acts as a diluent to quench energy propagation.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517; W911NF-11-1-0439
• OSTI ID: 1184719
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-15-34263; TRN: US1500203
• Journal Information: Journal of Electrostatics, Vol. 76, Issue C; ISSN 0304-3886
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
COPPER OXIDES
NANOPARTICLES
IGNITION
CARBON NANOTUBES
POWDERS
ALUMINIUM
MIXTURES
ABUNDANCE
SENSITIVITY
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE
THERMITES
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY