Preparation of high-energy Al-Li alloy powders with enhanced compatibility and combustion performance by dense fluorosilane polymer composite coating
Applied Surface Science(2024)
Abstract
The superior combustion heat, lower ignition temperature, and enhanced combustion efficiency of aluminum–lithium (Al-Li) alloy powders have garnered significant research attention in relation to Al powders. However, the inadequate compatibility between Al-Li alloy powders (especially when Li > 3 wt%) and propellant components limits its application in the development of composite solid propellants. This study focuses on the surface-coating active Al-4.3Li (wt.%) alloy powder using a composite fluorosilane coupling agent to improve compatibility and combustion performance. A coating layer with a thickness of 30–40 nm was successfully formed on the surface of Al-4.3Li alloy powder through interactions involving Al-F, Al-O-Si, and Li-O-Si bonds, thereby achieving remarkable hydrophobicity. The heat release increased by 7.5 %, while the ignition delay time of the alloy powder decreased by nearly 200 ms, resulting in a significantly enhanced combustion performance in relation to that of the original Al-4.3Li alloy powder. Moreover, the modified Al-4.3Li alloy powder exhibited better compatibility, and no cracks or bubbles were observed in the cross-section of the propellant containing modified Al-4.3Li metal fuel. This study provides an effective approach for utilizing Al-Li alloy powders in solid propellants, which is of great significance for the development of high-energy propulsion systems.
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Key words
Solid propellants,Al-Li alloy powder,Fluorosilane surface coating,Combustion characteristics levels
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