Enhancement of thermal properties of Al/ MoO ₃ thermite by electrostatic spraying

Abstract To improve the thermal properties of thermite safely and stably, electrostatic spraying was used to prepare the Al/MoO 3 thermite. The Al/MoO 3 thermites were detected and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal decomposition experiments were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The heat release of the Al/MoO 3 thermite prepared by the electrostatic spray (1044 J g −1 ) is significantly higher than that of the thermite prepared by the ultrasonic (692 J g −1 ), which is due to more uniform dispersion between Al and MoO 3 . The initial reaction temperature and activation energy ( E a ) of the former keep it steady. Electrostatic spray ensures the safety and stability of the Al/MoO 3 thermite. This study provides a new idea for safely and stably improving the thermal properties of thermite by enhancing surface homogenization, which is of great significance for practical applications.