Combustion Characteristics of Silicon‐Based Nanoenergetic Formulations with Reduced Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity

Abstract

This paper details the synthesis and combustion characteristics of silicon-based nanoenergetic formulations. Silicon nanostructured powder (with a wide variety of morphologies such as nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanotubes) were produced by DC plasma arc discharge route. These nanostructures were passivated with oxygen and hydrogen post-synthesis. Their structural, morphological, and vibrational properties were investigated using X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. The silicon nanostructured powder (fuel) was mixed with varying amounts of sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4 ) nanoparticles (oxidizer) to form nanoenergetic mixtures. The NaClO 4 nanoparticles with a size distribution in the range of 5-40 nm were prepared using surfactant in a mixed solvent system. The combustion characteristics, namely (i) the combustion wave speed and (ii) the pressure-time characteristics, were measured. The observed correlation between the basic material properties and the measured combustion characteristics is presented. These silicon-based nanoenergetic formulations exhibit reduced sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Combustion and material characterization of porous silicon nanoenergetics

“…Several of its material characteristics, including high surface area, energy density, and MEMS compatibility make PS a particularly interesting candidate for the field of energetic materials. Many forms of silicon have been used in energetic applications including silicon particles [8], nanowires and nanotubes [8], and on-chip etched porous silicon [1][2][3][4][9][10][11][12]. The most reactive of these is on-chip PS, which for over twenty years has been known to demonstrate explosive-like reactions [13].…”

Electro-explosion performance of KNO3-filled carbon nanotubes initiator

“…21,22 Explosive sensitivity is a stochastic variable, which cannot be measured directly because the explosive element is "one shot" element that cannot be tested completely before use. Several special statistical approaches for sensitivity measurements were developed, such as Langlies's method, the Bruceton up-down method, and Neyer's D-optimize based method.…”

Preparation of silicon nanomaterials by arc discharge

“…The nanoenergetic composites were prepared by mixing NaClO 4 nanoparticles and the prepared Si powders and then the performance of their combustion was investigated. It was found that the nanoenergetic composite of NaClO 4 nanoparticles and SiNMs at the equivalence ratio of 0.9, in which the surfaces of the SiNMs were passivated with hydrogen, exhibited the highest speed of combustion wave [65]. This indicates that the passivation of the SiNMs with hydrogen is necessary to improve the performance of combustion of the Si-based nanoenergetic composites.…”

“…When the mixture of Si and Fe (catalyst) powders was used in the experiment, the product also contained a little amount of SiNTs [65]. The average diameter and length of the SiNTs are similar to those of the nanowires, but the average thickness (approximately 2 nm) of their SiO shells is thinner than that of the nanowires.…”

“…Thiruvengadathan et al prepared the SiNWs, using graphite cup (diameter 7.62 cm and height 2.22 cm, filled with the mixture of the precursors) as anode and tungsten rod (diameter 0.64 cm) as cathode [65]. The cathode and arc discharge chamber were water-cooled during arc discharge.…”