Accession Number:

AD1004629

Title:

Utilizing the Power of Nanostructures to Their Fullest Capability in Energetic Formulations

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,01 Oct 2012,30 Sep 2015

Corporate Author:

US Army Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground United States

Personal Author(s):

• Weingarten,N. S.
• Gottfried,Jennifer L.
• Batyrev,Iskander G.
• Collins,Eric S.
• Zachariah,Michael R.

Report Date:

2016-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

46.0

Abstract:

The significantly enhanced energy release expected from energetic formulations containing nanostructured aluminum Al has never been realized due to sintering of the nano-Al just prior to the energy release step. This precludes achieving the faster energy release, more efficient combustion, and controllable explosive performance consistent with the introduction of nanostructured metallics to energetic formulations. This DRI project used complementary experimentation and theory to study the energy release mechanisms of decompositions of novel assemblies of gas generators containing nanoscale Al conventional Al nanoparticles and Al nanoclusters to overcome the sintering andor oxide-formation issues. Experimentally, a previously published hypothesis for the mechanism leading to enhanced energy release from Al nanoparticles in the presence of a gas generator was disproven, and a new hypothesis was developed. Computer simulations demonstrated that an unexpected intermixing inhibits the effect of small-scale Al clusters passivated with a gas generator, introducing different hindrances to enhanced combustion.

Descriptors:

• nanoparticles
• energetic materials
• chemical reactions
• aluminum
• density functional theory
• NANOSTRUCTURES

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE