SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND REACTIVITY OF SILICON NANO PARTICLES FOR PYROTECHNICAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Silicon particles with a particle size in the range of 10 to 100 nm were synthesised in kilogram scale using an Induction Coupled Plasma (ICP) facility. In this process, a coarse powder is vaporised in a hydrogen / argon plasma torch and condensed in a stream of argon. The produced particles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Thermal Gravimetry Analysis (TGA), Raman and Infrared spectroscopy and BET. The produced silicon powder was used as reducing agent in pyrotechnic compositions containing potassium perchlorate as an oxidizer. Performances in terms of heat and rate of reaction for compositions having oxygen balances ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 were found superior to urn sized silicon powders.