Aluminum Nanocomposite Materials for Propellant Applications

摘要

Aluminum is commonly used as an energetic additive in propellant and munitions formulations, providing performance improvements to a variety of processes. In this work, passivated aluminum nanocomposites are synthesized. Materials display enhancements to desirable characteristics for propellant applications, including weeks-long shelf life, the absence of an oxide layer, a small average diameter (below 20 nm), and high active aluminum content. Performance is subsequently augmented, as materials exhibit a significant increase in burn rate upon combustion. The advantages offered by such novel nanocomposties in conjunction with inherently scalable synthesis provides strong opportunity for commercialization and integration into conventional and novel propulsion systems.