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Novel Superthermite Nanocomposite Hybrid Material Based on CuO Coated Carbon Nanofibers for Advanced Energetic Systems

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Abstract

The surfaces of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were first pretreated with a catalyst to enable metal deposition and subsequently coated with a nanoscale layer of copper through electroless deposition. The resulting Cu-coated CNF hybrid was annealed at 250 °C to obtain CuO-coated CNFs that were ultrasonically suspended with aluminum nanoparticles (100 nm) in isopropyl alcohol to produce nanothermite colloid; where CuO coating can act as an effective oxidizer for Al nanoparticles. The developed nanothermite colloid was integrated and effectively dispersed in molten tri-nitro toluene (TNT). This novel colloid offers an increase in TNT shock wave strength of by 26% using a ballistic mortar test. Moreover it offers an increase total heat release by 75% using DSC. This is the first time ever to report on nanothermite particles supported on CNFs for highly energetic systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Military Technical College, Kobry Elkoba, Cairo, Egypt

    Sherif Elbasuney & M. Gaber Zaky

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L7, Canada

    Ishwar K. Puri

  3. Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L7, Canada

    Rakesh P. Sahu & Ishwar K. Puri

  4. British University in Egypt, Elshorouk City, Cairo, Egypt

    Mostafa Radwan

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  1. Sherif Elbasuney
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  2. M. Gaber Zaky
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  3. Rakesh P. Sahu
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  4. Ishwar K. Puri
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  5. Mostafa Radwan
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Correspondence to Sherif Elbasuney.

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Elbasuney, S., Zaky, M.G., Sahu, R.P. et al. Novel Superthermite Nanocomposite Hybrid Material Based on CuO Coated Carbon Nanofibers for Advanced Energetic Systems. J Inorg Organomet Polym 29, 851–858 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-018-01059-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-018-01059-y

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