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Balancing processing ease with combustion performance in aluminum/PVDF energetic filaments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2020

Matthew C. Knott ,
Ashton W. Craig ,
Rahul Shankar ,
Sarah E. Morgan ,
Scott T. Iacono ,
Joseph E. Mates  and
Jena M. McCollum
Matthew C. Knott
Affiliation:
University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colorado80918, USA
Ashton W. Craig
Affiliation:
University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colorado80918, USA
Rahul Shankar
Affiliation:
University of Southern Mississippi, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Hattiesburg, Mississippi39406, USA
Sarah E. Morgan
Affiliation:
University of Southern Mississippi, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Hattiesburg, Mississippi39406, USA
Scott T. Iacono
Affiliation:
United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Research Center Colorado80840, USA
Joseph E. Mates
Affiliation:
Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB California93524, USA
Jena M. McCollum*
Affiliation:
University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colorado80918, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Molecular weight (Mw) effects in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) influence both processability and combustion behavior in energetic Al–PVDF filaments. Results show decreased viscosity in unloaded and fuel-lean (i.e., 15 wt% Al) filaments. In highly loaded filaments (i.e., 30 wt% Al), reduced viscosity is minimal due to higher electrostatic interaction between Al particles and low Mw chains as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and combustion analysis further corroborates this story as exothermic activity decreases in PVDF with smaller Mw chains. Differential scanning calorimetry and Thermogravimetric analysis show reduced reaction enthalpy and lower char yield in low Mw PVDF. Enthalpy reduction trends continued in nonequilibrium burn rate studies, which confirm that burn rate decreases in the presence of low Mw PVDF. Furthermore, powder X-ray patterns of post-burn products suggest that low Mw PVDF decomposition creates a diffusion barrier near the Al particle surface resulting in negligible AlF3 formation in fuel-rich filaments.

Keywords

energetic materialviscoelasticitysurface chemistry
Type
Invited Feature Paper
Information
Journal of Materials Research , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2020

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Footnotes

b)

Contributing Editor: Sarah Morgan

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