Condensed phase species composition for aluminum particles combustion in nitrocellulose

The mixtures of nitrocellulose and aluminum with different particle size were ignited in a hermetic steel chamber. The pressures of combustion products were measured and the condensed products were recovered. The morphology and surface atomic distribution of the condensed products was studied with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The crystal structure and composition of condensed products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the products particles are still spherical shape whose size is roughly identical to that of the initial particles for micro aluminum particles. An analysis of condensed products morphology indicates that the reaction of aluminum proceeds on the particle surface. The amount of reacted aluminum importantly depends on the particles size of aluminum. Non-reacted aluminum, Al₂O₃ and Al₂OC were founded in condensed products. γ-Al₂O₃ is present in all samples and α-Al₂O₃ is found only in the sample containing nano Al. The mass fraction of Al₂OC varied ranged from 2 to 27% with the Al particles size changed in condensed products.