Functionally Coated Faceted Aluminum Nanocrystals: Aerosol Synthesis and Reactivity

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorZachariah, Michael Ren_US
dc.contributor.authorKaplowitz, Daniel Alanen_US
dc.contributor.departmentChemical Engineeringen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-10-10T05:32:07Z
dc.date.available2013-10-10T05:32:07Z
dc.date.issued2013en_US
dc.description.abstractThe demand for large scale manufacture of nanoaluminum for use in propellant applications has motivated research into development of an aerosol production scheme. In addition, the reactive nature of aluminum in the presence of oxygen has inspired investigation into functionally coating bare nanoaluminum prior to exposure to the atmosphere. Faceted aluminum crystals are fabricated in the aerosol phase via thermal pyrolysis of triisobutylaluminum, a low temperature gas-phase synthesis route, and combustion tests of oxygen passivated product in thermite combination show an increase in energy release compared to commercial nanoaluminum. Three different coatings on this bare nanoaluminum are developed: a decoration of Ni/Ni<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles by thermal decomposition of Ni(CO)<sub>4</sub>, a homogeneous layer of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)<sub>5</sub>, and a monolayer of perfluoropentanoic acid via bridge bonding between aluminum and carboxylate groups. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that the metal oxide coatings have facilitated formation of an expanded aluminum oxide layer during an air bleed, but perfluoropentanoic acid has successfully passivated aluminum. The protection from significant oxide formation for the perfluoropentanoic acid coating is evident in a 16% increase in active fuel content by thermogravimetric analysis compared to the untreated case. Subsequent temperature jump fine wire combustion tests show decreased ignition temperatures for all three coatings. Combustion chamber tests in thermite combinations display poor pressure output for the Ni/Ni<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> coated case, but reasonable response for the Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> product. Flame ignition of perfluoropentanoic acid coated product is shown to produce AlF<sub>3</sub> by chemical analysis of char, indicating the passivation coating also functions in direct oxidizer delivery.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/14619
dc.subject.pqcontrolledChemical engineeringen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledaerosolen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledaluminumen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledcoatingen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledcombustionen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrollednanoparticleen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledthermiteen_US
dc.titleFunctionally Coated Faceted Aluminum Nanocrystals: Aerosol Synthesis and Reactivityen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Kaplowitz_umd_0117E_14396.pdf
Size:
3.05 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

UMD Theses and Dissertations
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Theses and Dissertations