Surface engineering boron/graphite fluoride composite with enhanced ignition and combustion performances

Abstract

Boron (B) shows great potential applications in the military and aerospace industry due to its high calorific value. However, the reactivity is limited by the inert oxide layer (B2O3) that covers the B particles. Herein, nano-Al, and Fluorographene (FG) are employed as coating materials to enhance the ignition and combustion efficiency of boron. When graphite fluoride (GF) was utilized as an oxidizer (the B/GF mass ratio is 1:9), the maximum heat release of B@nano-Al/GF (∼5.6 kJ/g) and B@FG/GF (∼5.4 kJ/g) were markedly higher than that of raw B/GF (∼2.5 kJ/g), ascribed to the self-activation effect of the coating layer. On this basis, the combustion experiments were performed and their performances were compared and studied. Specifically, the ignition delay time of B@nano-Al/GF and B@FG/GF was decreased to 320 ms 262 ms, respectively, compared with that of raw B/GF (380 ms) with 15 W laser power. This is consistent with the ignition burning test, where the B@6%nano-Al/GF and B@2%FG/GF have higher flame height than raw B/GF. However, the maximum pressure and pressurization rate decreased for B@6%nano-Al/GF and B@2%FG/GF because of the reduced amount of gas caused by decreased boron content. Additionally, the effects of the B/GF mass ratio (1:9, 2:8, 3:7, 4:6) on the combustion performances of composites were fully studied. The pressure output, combustion reaction, and ignition delay time are reduced with B/GF mass ratios increased. This work could provide a general approach to improve the ignition and combustion performance of boron.