Combustion of boron particles coated with an energetic polymer material

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 3016 - 3020
• Main Authors: Shin, Weon Gyu, Han, Doohee, Park, Yohan, Hyun, Hyung Soo, Sung, Hong-Gye, Sohn, Youngku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-10-2016; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Argon ions; Biotechnology; Boron; Burning time; Camera tubes; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coated particles; Combustion; Energetic materials; Fourier transforms; Glycidyl azide polymer; High speed cameras; Industrial Chemistry; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Infrared spectroscopy; Materials Science; Photoelectrons; Polymer; Polymers; Silver; Tube furnaces; Vaporization; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; 화학공학; Glycidyl Azide Polymer; Boron; Drop Tube Furnace; Combustion; Burning Time
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-016-0173-8

Elemental boron has attracted considerable attention as a potential high energetic material for explosives and propellants. However, its use has been hindered by its high vaporization temperature and surface oxide layer. In this study, boron particles were coated with glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) to improve their combustion characteristics. The coated particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. XPS performed before and after Ar+ ion sputtering confirmed that the azide (−N
3
) group of GAP was positioned at the proximity of the boron surface. In addition, B@GAP particles could be decorated with metallic Ag (∼10 nm) nanoparticles. The combustion characteristics were examined using a newly designed pre-heated (1,800 K) drop tube furnace and a high speed camera. Two stages of combustion were observed for a dust cloud of GAP-coated boron particles. The burning time was estimated to be approximately 37.5 msec.