Mechanical Desensitization of an Al/WO3 Nanothermite by Means of Carbonaceous Coatings Derived from Carbohydrates

Pierre Gibot (1, 2) , Quentin Miesch (1, 2) , Arnaud Bach (1, 2, 3) , Fabien Schnell (1, 2) , Roger Gadiou (3) , Denis Spitzer (2, 1)

1 NS3E - Nanomatériaux pour les Systèmes Sous Sollicitations Extrêmes
2 ISL - Institut franco-allemand de recherches de Saint-Louis
3 IS2M - Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse

Nanothermites show great developmental promise in the near future in civilian, military and aerospace applications due to their tuneable reactive properties (ignition delay time, combustion velocity and pressure release). However, the high mechanical sensitivities of some of these energetic nanocomposites can make transportation and handling of them hazardous. Here, a mechanical desensitization (shock and friction) of an Al/WO3 nanothermite is successfully obtained by means of carbon adding through the pyrolysis of naturally occurring molecules (carbohydrates). The combustion behaviour of the carbon-based energetic mixtures were also evaluated and a respectable reactivity has been evidenced

Mots clés: nanothermites; saccharides; carbon; desensitization; energetic nanocomposites

Domaines: Matériaux

Pierre Gibot, Quentin Miesch, Arnaud Bach, Fabien Schnell, Roger Gadiou, et al.. Mechanical Desensitization of an Al/WO3 Nanothermite by Means of Carbonaceous Coatings Derived from Carbohydrates. Journal of Carbon Research, 2019, 5 (3), pp.37. ⟨10.3390/c5030037⟩. ⟨hal-02348981⟩