Fundamental investigation on the micro-explosion of aluminum-lithium alloy particle

Yintao Zhou, Qian Mao*, Shao Ing NG, Qingzhao Chu, Lijuan Liao, Baolu Shi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloy particle is considered to be a promising alternative for conventional aluminum particles to enhance energy release in solid propellants, owing to its tendency to undergo micro-explosions during combustion processes. In this study, both laser-induced ignition/combustion experiments and reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) simulations were performed to comprehensively capture the complete micro-explosion sequence of Al-Li alloy particles under a high-pressure oxygen condition. In combustion experiments, higher heating rates and Li concentrations effectively increase the probability of micro-explosions and shorten both the ignition delay time and the combustion time of Al-Li alloy particles. Meanwhile, RMD results reveal the micro-explosion mechanism from atomic scale, highlighting that the aggregation, melting, boiling and growth of Li cluster are the prerequisites for micro-explosion. The competition of stresses in the outer shell and inner Li cluster determine the micro-explosion phenomenon. In addition, influences of heating rates and Li concentrations on the micro-explosion were well clarified and their dependence was summarized. A high heating rate provides more energy to atoms within the Al-Li alloy particle through reactions and collisions, thereby shortening the duration of the atomic diffusion stage before micro-explosion. Furthermore, a high Li concentration enhances the expansion stress of the Li cluster to shorten the cluster growth stage. This systematic study establishes a fundamental understanding of the intricate mechanisms governing the micro-explosion of Al-Li alloy particles, offering potential insights for guiding practical applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number113983
JournalCombustion and Flame
Volume274
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2025

Keywords

  • Al-Li alloy particle
  • High-pressure combustion
  • Micro-explosion
  • Molecular dynamics simulation

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Zhou, Y., Mao, Q., NG, S. I., Chu, Q., Liao, L., & Shi, B. (2025). Fundamental investigation on the micro-explosion of aluminum-lithium alloy particle. Combustion and Flame, 274, Article 113983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2025.113983