Dependence of catalytic properties of Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} thermites on morphology of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles in combustion reactions

Journal Article · Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2014.06.039· OSTI ID:22443442

Zhao, Ningning; He, Cuicui; Liu, Jianbing ^[1]; Gong, Hujun ^[2]; An, Ting; Xu, Huixiang; Zhao, Fengqi; Hu, Rongzu ^[3]; Ma, Haixia ^[1]; Zhang, Jinzhong ^[4]

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1. School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710069 (China)
2. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710069 (China)
3. Science and Technology on Combustion and Explosion Laboratory, Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Shaanxi, Xi'an 710065 (China)
4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (United States)

Three Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particle samples with the same crystal structure but different morphologies were prepared by the hydrothermal method and then combined with Al nanoparticles to produce Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} thermites using ultrasonic mixing. The properties of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} were studied using a combination of experimental techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The influences of the three Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} thermites on the combustion properties of the AP/HTPB (ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) composite propellant were investigated in comparison to those of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}. The results show that the Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} thermites are better than Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} in enhancing the combustion performance of AP/HTPB. Furthermore, the surface area, which depends on size and mophology, of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles was found to play a vital role in improving the burning rate of the thermites-containing propellant formulation, with the smallest particles with the largest surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio performing the best. The enhanced catalytic property of the granular-shape Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and the corresponding thermite is attributed to the large specific surface area of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}. The different thermal behaviors of these three superthemites were supposed to be attributed to the surface site of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles. This work provides a better understanding on the catalytic properties of thermites that are important for combustion applications. - Graphical abstract: Effects of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} have been compared for the first time by analyzing combustion properties of formulations containing them, suggesting their potential application in AP/HTPB composite propellant systems. - Highlights: • Three Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles with different morphologies (polyhedral, oval and granular) were prepared by the hydrothermal method. • Thermal behaviors of thermites Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} are studied upon DSC data. • Effects of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} on the combustion properties of the AP/HTPB composite propellant are first investigated.

• OSTI ID: 22443442
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 219; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CALORIMETRY
COMBUSTION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
EXPLOSIVES
FERRITES
FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETERS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
HYDROXIDES
INFRARED SPECTRA
IRON OXIDES
NANOPARTICLES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA
SURFACE AREA
SURFACES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION