Controllable assembly of biomimetic sea urchin-structured micro & nano aluminum powder and its energy release synergistic effect

Self-assembled micro & nano aluminum powder was prepared by electro-explosive deposition to solve the shortcomings of high ignition temperature and incomplete reaction for micron aluminum powder in the combustion area after the explosion. The heat transfer and reaction degree of aluminum powder was calculated with phase change. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show that the nano‑aluminum is distributed on the surface of micron aluminum, which is similar to the ‘sea urchin’ structure. Due to the influence of nano‑aluminum on the surface, the temperature peak is delayed in thermal analysis (TG-DSC). The results of hot wire ignition show that the released heat and reaction degree of self-assembled micro & nano aluminum powder are better. In CO₂ laser ignition test, the ignition delay time of this powder becomes shorter. With the influence of nano‑aluminum, the self-assembled micro & nano aluminum powder can keep burning, resulting in the higher radiation intensity. In ultrafast heating tests, the results of the electric explosion and the high energy laser-induced air shock wave indicate that the self-assembled micro & nano aluminum sample has a higher level of energy release. These results demonstrate that the self-assembled micro & nano aluminum powder shows advantages in rapid response and high reaction degree, and this fuel is significant potential for application in explosives.