Evaluation of the Combustion Properties and Catalytic Activity of MgAlB Energetic Ternary Particles

ABSTRACT

Boron powder possesses significant potential for use as a combustible agent in energetic materials, owing to its superior combustion thermodynamic properties. However, the powder’s tendency to form an oxide layer on its surface results in delayed ignition, reduced combustion efficiency, and compromised energy advantage. To enhance the ignition and combustion properties of boron powder, we prepared boron-based energetic composites containing flammable metals (Mg_xAl_1-xB₂) through high-temperature sintering. These were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The combustion heat of these alloy powders were measured using an oxygen bomb calorimeter, while their catalytic performance on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results indicate that compared with boron, the Mg_xAl_1-xB₂ powders are more flammable, require less oxygen, exhibit a higher combustion efficiency and exothermic advantage. Especially, the Mg_0.9Al_0.1B₂ and MgB₂ alloy exhibit optimal combustion heat values of 39,094.92 and 37,693.90 J·g⁻¹, respectively. They significantly enhance the thermal decomposition of AP and reduce the activation energy by over 20%.

KEYWORDS:

• Boron
• alloy powder
• combustion heat
• catalytic decomposition properties
• evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province [2022NSFSC1263]; Project of Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province [CSPC202011]; Talent Introduction Project of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering [2017RCL44]; Graduate Innovation Foundation of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering [Y2023064].