A Novel Understanding of the Thermal Reaction Behavior and Mechanism of Ni/Al Energetic Structural Materials

Ni/Al energetic structural materials have attracted much attention due to their high energy release, but understanding their thermal reaction behavior and mechanism in order to guide their practical application is still a challenge. We reported a novel understanding of the thermal reaction behavior and mechanism of Ni/Al energetic structural materials in the inert atmosphere. The reaction kinetic model of Ni/Al energetic structural materials with Ni:Al molar ratios was obtained. The effect of the Ni:Al molar ratios on their thermal reactions was discussed based on the products of a Ni/Al thermal reaction. Moreover, depending on the melting point of Al, the thermal reaction stages were divided into two stages: the hard contact stage and soft contact stage. The liquid Al was adsorbed on the surface of Ni with high contact areas, leading in an aggravated thermal reaction of Ni/Al.