Deflagrations of nitromethane and nanoaluminum mixtures

J. L. Sabourin, Richard A. Yetter, B. W. Asay, Grant Alexander Risha, S. F. Son

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Effects of aluminum nanoparticle addition to nitromethane (NM) are studied in terms of overall mixture burning rate using an optical pressure vessel up to 14.2 MPa. Nitromethane is gelled using fumed silica (Cab-O-Sil), as well as by the nanoaluminum (nAl) particles themselves. Use of the nanoscale metallic particles slightly increases burning rates compared to larger diameter particles, however distinct increases in burning rates are found when Cab-O-Sil is removed and replaced with more energetic aluminum nanoparticles, whose high surface area allow them to act as the gellant. Burning rates of 2.34 cm/s are seen at 14.1 MPa and 12.5% aluminum loading using 38-nm particles. Using the same nAl particles, 4% aluminum and 3% Cab-O-Sil loading, burning rates of 0.88 cm/s are seen at approximately the same pressure. In both cases mixture consistencies are roughly the same. Larger, 80-nm aluminum particles were also used in conjunction with Cab-O-Sil gellant, yielding a linear burning rate of 0.65 cm/s at 14.2 MPa (4% Al-3% Cab-O-Sil). In all mixtures, burning rate pressure exponents less than the pure nitromethane case are observed with fumed silica addition, while the exponents are increased when using nAl as the gellant.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFall Technical Meeting of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute 2007 "Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion"
PublisherCombustion Institute
Pages588-594
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781604239454
StatePublished - Jan 1 2007
EventFall Technical Meeting of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute 2007: Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion - Charlottesville, United States
Duration: Oct 21 2007Oct 24 2007

Publication series

NameFall Technical Meeting of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute 2007 "Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion"

Other

OtherFall Technical Meeting of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute 2007: Chemical and Physical Processes in Combustion
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCharlottesville
Period10/21/0710/24/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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