Ignition and oxidation performance of SnO2 coated boron particles: A solid fuel for energetic applications

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 886; p. 161123
• Main Authors: Deshmukh, P.R., Lee, Haneol, Kim, Yongjun, Shin, Weon Gyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.12.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Boron; Boron particles; Chemical method; Chemical precipitation; Delay time; Energetic fuel; Heat of combustion; Ignition; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; SnO2 nanoparticles; Solid fuels; Surface coating; Tin dioxide; Surface coating; Chemical method; Ignition; Oxidation; Energetic fuel; SnO2 nanoparticles; Boron particles
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.161123

•Uniform coating of nanometer sized SnO2 nanoparticles on boron particles.•Significantly enhanced ignition performance of boron after SnO2 coating.•Ignition delay time of boron shortened by 19% after coated with SnO2 nanoparticles. Ignition delay time [Display omitted] The ignition performance of boron is limited by the presence of a natural oxide layer on its surface. As a result, despite its high volumetric and gravimetric heat of combustion, its use in high energetic applications remains rare. To improve its ignition performance, and its eventual use in energetic applications, we coated micro sized boron particles with nanometer sized SnO2 nanoparticles using a simple chemical precipitation method. Several samples were prepared by varying the chemical precipitation time on the boron surface. A structural study of the SnO2 coated boron particles determined the formation of nanocrystalline SnO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the boron particles. Surface morphology showed the small sized SnO2 nanoparticles were distributed over the boron surface. EDS and XPS techniques confirmed the presence of B, Sn, and O elements in the SnO2 coated boron samples. TEM analysis supported the results of the surface morphology, and confirmed the apparent size of SnO2 nanoparticles to be in the range of 3–20 nm. TGA was used to study the oxidation behavior of the boron and SnO2 coated boron particles in an air atmosphere. It showed an approximate 20% reduction in the mass gain of boron at 1000 °C, as well as a shift, 160 °C lower, in the onset oxidation temperature after the coating of SnO2 nanoparticles. A shock tube study measured a significant enhancement in the ignition performance of boron. The SnO2 coated boron particles resulted in a 19% decrease in ignition delay time compared with pure boron particles.