Al-Based Nano-Sized Composite Energetic Materials (Nano-CEMs): Preparation, Characterization, and Performance

Abstract

As one of the new types of functional materials, nano-sized composite energetic materials (nano-CEMs) possess many advantages and broad application prospects in the research field of explosives and propellants. The recent progress in the preparation and performance characterization of Al-based nano-CEMs has been reviewed. The preparation methods and properties of Al-based nano-CEMs are emphatically analyzed. Special emphasis is focused on the improved performances of Al-based nano-CEMs, which are different from those of conventional micro-sized composite energetic materials (micro-CEMs), such as thermal decomposition and hazardous properties. The existing problems and challenges for the future work on Al-based nano-CEMs are discussed.

Effect of Silicon Nitride and Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

“…Furthermore, the density of the composites is found to decrease with the increasing amount of GNPs due to an incremental decrease in the density of the Al matrix due to its replaced amount by GNPs. A similar trend in the density results was noticed in a previous study conducted on Al-Graphene composites [ 10 , 17 ]. For a deeper insight into the density behavior of the composites, relative density ( ) of the developed composites was determined using the actual or measured density ( ) and the theoretical density values ( ) as indicated in the below Equation [ 31 ].…”

“…Nowadays, the production of Al-composites with nano-sized reinforcements undergoes multiple types of experimental research owing to the large specific surface area represented by the nanoparticles, which give rise to a strong contact interfacial area between the base material and its reinforcement [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. This characteristic improves the mechanical behavior of the composites resulting in a superior nanotribological performance [ 12 ].…”

Effect of Metal Nanopowders on the Performance of Solid Rocket Propellants: A Review

“…High-energy solid propellants play an essential role in propulsion for space exploration [ 1 , 2 ]. The specific impulse or density specific impulse of propellants can be increased by the inclusion of certain reactive metal powders, such as aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), etc.…”

“…The specific impulse or density specific impulse of propellants can be increased by the inclusion of certain reactive metal powders, such as aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), etc. Metal particles with different grain sizes considerably influence the combustion and hazardous properties of solid rocket propellants: in particular, the burning rate was significantly enhanced by adding fractions of nano-sized particles, while the rheological performance of propellant slurry was significantly increased as well [ 3 , 4 ]. Several works on nano-sized metal powders were conducted worldwide, and many good achievements were obtained [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Multiscale design, interaction mechanism and performance of CL-20/Al energetic composites with embedded structure

“…The contact between reactant particles in Al-based composite energetic materials is kept closer, which reduces the distance of mass and heat transfer in the reaction process. [8][9][10] It has the advantages of low ignition temperature and energy, fast energy release rate, high energy utilization rate, fast combustion rate and high pressure output. 11,12 In recent years, researchers have begun to prepare energetic composites of explosive/aluminum powder, to realize the close contact between aluminum powder and explosives, to improve the concentration of explosive/aluminum powder per unit volume, and to improve the reaction rate and reaction completeness of aluminum powder.…”