Nanothermites

Eric Lafontaine is in charge of the scientific field at the Direction générale de l'armement (French Government Defense procurement and technology agency). He specializes in the property structure relationships of materials. Marc Comet is a researcher at Laboratoire NS3E (ISL - CNRS - University of Strasbourg) in France. His achievements include many publications, patents and international distinctions in the field of nanothermites and energetic nanomaterials.

• Introduction ixChapter 1. Elaboration of Nanoparticles  11.1. Solid-phase elaboration  21.1.1. Mechanical milling  21.2. Liquid-phase elaboration 191.2.1. Sonochemistry 191.2.2. Microemulsion synthesis  231.2.3. Solvothermal syntheses 281.2.4. Sol-gel syntheses 391.3. Gas-phase elaboration 431.3.1. Condensation in inert gas  431.3.2. Explosion of metal wires  461.3.3. Thermal plasma synthesis  481.3.4. Laser ablation 601.3.5. Pyrotechnic synthesis  73Chapter 2. Methods for Preparing Nanothermites  872.1. Introduction 872.2. Physical mixing  892.2.1. Mixing in hexane 892.2.2. Mixing in isopropanol  922.2.3. Mixing in water  952.2.4. Mixing in other solvents 962.2.5. Dry mixing 972.2.6. Aerosol synthesis of the “building blocks” for physical mixing  982.3. Coating 1002.3.1. Coating oxide with fuel 1012.3.2. Coating fuel with oxide 1022.3.3. Coating of fuel with a metal layer 1042.4. Sol-gel method 1042.4.1. Formation of oxide around the metal particles  1052.4.2. Preparation of oxides subsequently mixed with metal 1082.5. Impregnating porous solids 1112.6. Assembly  1142.6.1. Chemical methods  1142.6.2. Biological methods  1172.6.3. Electrical methods  1182.7. Structuring at the surface of substrates 1212.8. Conclusions and perspectives  125Chapter 3. The Experimental Study of Nanothermites 1273.1. Introduction 1273.2. Study and properties of main fuels 1283.2.1. Nanometric aluminum  1293.2.2. Other fuels of interest  1573.3. Oxidizers of interest for nanothermites  1663.3.1. Metal or metalloid oxides  1673.3.2. Oxidizing salts  1893.4. Methods for the characterization of nanothermites  1953.4.1. Reactive characterization  1963.4.2. Morphological characterizations  2193.5. Conclusion: performance of nanothermites and their enhancement  225Chapter 4. Nanothermites and Safety  2294.1. Introduction 2294.2. Pyrotechnic safety 2294.2.1. Definition and measurement of sensitivity  2304.2.2. Techniques used for the desensitization of nanothermites 2324.2.3. Pyrotechnic risk assessment 2364.2.4. Regulatory aspects  2394.3. Neutralization of nanothermites 2394.4. Toxicological risk 2434.4.1. Toxicity of the constituents and reaction products of nanothermites  2444.4.2. Analyses of specific risks and good practices  2504.5. Conclusions and perspectives  257Conclusion 259Bibliography  263Index 323