Effect of Gasifying Agents On Combustion Characteristics of Nanothermites

Recently, research and developments in the area of nanothermites has been focused on tuning of the combustion characteristics in order to control the rate of energy release,  increase gas generation and specific impulse.  This improved performance is essential for utilization of these exothermic systems in many military as well as space exploration applications.  This contribution will focus on the reactivity of mixed nanothermites such as Al-Fe₂O₃, Al-Bi₂O₃ and Al-CuO.  The combustion characteristics of the nanothermite composites will be further tuned by: 1) the addition of gasifying agents, such as nitrocellulose (NC) or cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), 2) composition of nanothermite system, 3) reactant particle size and morphology.  A novel mixing technique involving the utilization of a Resodyn LabRAM mixer will be demonstrated.  The effect of slurry concentrations, quantity of binder additives of formability and strength of dried nanothermite composites will be discussed.  The ignition sensitivity of the selected nanothermite systems will be characterized using ESD and friction methods.  Both ignition delay times and dynamic pressure profiles of these composites under confined conditions will be presented as well.