Influence of titanium addition on performance of boron-based thermites

Wanjun Zhao; Haiyang Wang; Dylan J. Kline; Xizheng Wang; Tao Wu; Jianbing Xu; Hui Ren; Michael R. Zachariah

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2022.134837

Influence of titanium addition on performance of boron-based thermites

Wanjun Zhao, Haiyang Wang, Dylan J. Kline, Xizheng Wang, Tao Wu, Jianbing Xu, Hui Ren, Michael R. Zachariah^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Boron (B) is an attractive fuel for its high energy density, however, the native oxide shell retards boron ignition/combustion. In this study, nano titanium (nTi) powders were added into nano boron (nB)/copper oxide (CuO) and micron boron (µB)/CuO mixtures at various molar ratios. The reactivity for both nB/CuO and µB/CuO were increased significantly by ∼ 3–6 times with the addition of nTi. The possible mechanism for the enhanced reactivity have been investigated via the direct addition of the native oxide of titanium (TiO₂). Enhancement in reactivity is partly attributed the interaction of TiO₂ with the melting boron oxide (B₂O₃) shell. The TiO₂/B₂O₃ mixture in non-liquid phase creates pathway for oxygen to diffuse and thus enhances the boron oxidation rate. In addition, the higher flame temperature due to reaction of Ti and CuO promotes the volatilization of B₂O₃ and melting of boron, resulting in faster reaction between B and CuO.

Original language	English
Article number	134837
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	438
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.134837
Publication status	Published - 15 Jun 2022
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Boron
Reaction mechanism
Reactivity
Thermites
Titanium

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10.1016/j.cej.2022.134837

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title = "Influence of titanium addition on performance of boron-based thermites",

abstract = "Boron (B) is an attractive fuel for its high energy density, however, the native oxide shell retards boron ignition/combustion. In this study, nano titanium (nTi) powders were added into nano boron (nB)/copper oxide (CuO) and micron boron (µB)/CuO mixtures at various molar ratios. The reactivity for both nB/CuO and µB/CuO were increased significantly by ∼ 3–6 times with the addition of nTi. The possible mechanism for the enhanced reactivity have been investigated via the direct addition of the native oxide of titanium (TiO2). Enhancement in reactivity is partly attributed the interaction of TiO2 with the melting boron oxide (B2O3) shell. The TiO2/B2O3 mixture in non-liquid phase creates pathway for oxygen to diffuse and thus enhances the boron oxidation rate. In addition, the higher flame temperature due to reaction of Ti and CuO promotes the volatilization of B2O3 and melting of boron, resulting in faster reaction between B and CuO.",

keywords = "Boron, Reaction mechanism, Reactivity, Thermites, Titanium",

author = "Wanjun Zhao and Haiyang Wang and Kline, {Dylan J.} and Xizheng Wang and Tao Wu and Jianbing Xu and Hui Ren and Zachariah, {Michael R.}",

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year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2022.134837",

language = "English",

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T1 - Influence of titanium addition on performance of boron-based thermites

AU - Zhao, Wanjun

AU - Wang, Haiyang

AU - Kline, Dylan J.

AU - Wang, Xizheng

AU - Wu, Tao

AU - Xu, Jianbing

AU - Ren, Hui

AU - Zachariah, Michael R.

PY - 2022/6/15

Y1 - 2022/6/15

N2 - Boron (B) is an attractive fuel for its high energy density, however, the native oxide shell retards boron ignition/combustion. In this study, nano titanium (nTi) powders were added into nano boron (nB)/copper oxide (CuO) and micron boron (µB)/CuO mixtures at various molar ratios. The reactivity for both nB/CuO and µB/CuO were increased significantly by ∼ 3–6 times with the addition of nTi. The possible mechanism for the enhanced reactivity have been investigated via the direct addition of the native oxide of titanium (TiO2). Enhancement in reactivity is partly attributed the interaction of TiO2 with the melting boron oxide (B2O3) shell. The TiO2/B2O3 mixture in non-liquid phase creates pathway for oxygen to diffuse and thus enhances the boron oxidation rate. In addition, the higher flame temperature due to reaction of Ti and CuO promotes the volatilization of B2O3 and melting of boron, resulting in faster reaction between B and CuO.

AB - Boron (B) is an attractive fuel for its high energy density, however, the native oxide shell retards boron ignition/combustion. In this study, nano titanium (nTi) powders were added into nano boron (nB)/copper oxide (CuO) and micron boron (µB)/CuO mixtures at various molar ratios. The reactivity for both nB/CuO and µB/CuO were increased significantly by ∼ 3–6 times with the addition of nTi. The possible mechanism for the enhanced reactivity have been investigated via the direct addition of the native oxide of titanium (TiO2). Enhancement in reactivity is partly attributed the interaction of TiO2 with the melting boron oxide (B2O3) shell. The TiO2/B2O3 mixture in non-liquid phase creates pathway for oxygen to diffuse and thus enhances the boron oxidation rate. In addition, the higher flame temperature due to reaction of Ti and CuO promotes the volatilization of B2O3 and melting of boron, resulting in faster reaction between B and CuO.

KW - Boron

KW - Reaction mechanism

KW - Reactivity

KW - Thermites

KW - Titanium

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DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2022.134837

M3 - Article

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SN - 1385-8947

VL - 438

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

M1 - 134837

ER -

Influence of titanium addition on performance of boron-based thermites

Abstract

Keywords

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