Aluminum Combustion in Aluminized Explosives: Aerobic and Anaerobic Reaction

Nanoscopic fuel-rich thermobaric formulations: Chemical composition optimization and sustained secondary combustion shock wave modulation

“…The tested thermobaric charge (TBX 6) exhibited experimental positive phase duration 20-50% higher than that of reference charge at different distances. This can be attributed to the secondary combustion of reactive metal fuel with the detonation products or with oxygen from the air [13,18]. This effect could have the potential to raise the temperature of the gaseous products and strengthens the shock wave [1,9].…”

“…(1)-(5) [6,13]. 2Al (s) + 3/2O 2 Al 2 O 3(s) + 1700 KJ/mol (1) 2Al (s) + 3CO (g) Al 2 O 3 + 3C + 1251 kJ/mol (2) 2Al (s) + 3H 2 O (g) Al 2 O 3(s) + 3H 2(g) + 866 kJ/mol (3) 2Al (s) + 3CO 2(g) Al 2 O 3 + 3CO + 741 kJ/mol (4) 2Al (s) + N 2(g) 2AlN + 346 kJ/mol (5) This series of exothermic reactions represents the secondary combustion pathway according to reaction spontaneity and reaction rate [17,18]. It is commonly assumed that the nitridation channel (5) is much slower than oxidation channels (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

“…It is commonly assumed that the nitridation channel (5) is much slower than oxidation channels (1)(2)(3)(4). Thereby, a large amount of energy is liberated during reactions of Al with primary detonation products, leading to sustained thermal loading [18,19]. Nano-scale aluminum particles have the potential to initiate the secondary combustion process due to the increased interfacial surface area, and reactivity [17].…”