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Nanocomposites of MgO with Y2O3 have been produced from the respective nitrates by an esterification reaction with ethylene glycol and citric acid. The evolution of nitrous oxides during the reaction causes the product to foam, and the calcination of this foam gives nanocomposite powders with extremely fine, uniform grains, and phase domains. These microstructures are remarkably stable both under postcalcination heat treatment and during consolidation by hot pressing. These stable microstructures arise as a result of the decomposition sequence: this involves the formation of a metastable amorphous/vitreous intermediate followed by concurrent crystallization and phase separation on the nanoscale.

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A screening of novel energetic materials is presented. These materials are selected according to their energy content and heat release during ignition. These material mixtures will be fabricated into composites that can also perform structural functions. A composite fabrication route is developed using fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition; coating a metallic layer onto the particles as a method to control mechanical properties and reaction kinetics. These reactive metal matrix composites can be developed to offer optimum performance with specific strength, modulus and energetic capabilities.

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