Interaction between Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Reactive Nanoparticle Constituents in Multilayered Al/NiO Nanocomposite

Abstract

Single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added into layered Al/NiO nano-thermite composites, to tune their energetic and reaction properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed a direct contact between the Al and NiO layers, where the presence of CNTs in a designated layer was clearly visible. Thermal-chemical data obtained from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated these composites, although modified with CNTs in either the Al or the NiO layer, exhibited a nearly constant onset temperature, implying comparable reaction initiation mechanisms. However, different amounts of energy release, accompanied with formation of distinct layer composition and microstructures of their products, was produced. It was further revealed that, by means of mass spectrometry, SEM and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, upon the initiation of the thermite reaction between Al and NiO at the interface layer, the reaction between CNTs and NiO nanoparticles produced CO and CO2, which promoted the gas-s...