RT Journal Article ID 40935517392f86dd A1 Valluri, Siva Kumar A1 Monk, Ian A1 Schoenitz, Mirko A1 Dreizin, Edward T1 FUEL-RICH ALUMINUM−METAL FLUORIDE THERMITES JF International Journal of Energetic Materials and Chemical Propulsion JO IJEMCP YR 2017 FD 2017-12-27 VO 16 IS 1 SP 81 OP 101 K1 reactive materials K1 energetics K1 nanocomposites K1 metal combustion K1 mechanical milling AB Nanocomposite thermite powders using aluminum as fuel with cobalt and bismuth fluorides as oxidizers were prepared by arrested reactive milling. Each material contained 50 wt% of aluminum and 50 wt% of a fluoride, resulting in fuel-rich compositions. The reactions in the prepared powders were characterized by thermo-analytical measurements; powders were ignited as coatings on an electrically heated filament and by electrostatic discharge. It was observed that the exothermic reactions begin in aluminum–metal fluoride thermites at lower temperatures than in any previously prepared reactive nanocomposites based on aluminum. Redox reactions in Al·CoF2 and Al·BiF3 nanocomposite started around 200 and 250°C, respectively. The results suggest that the initial reactions are rate-limited by the decomposition of fluorides. In the oxygenated environments, metals generated by reducing the starting fluorides oxidize readily. The newly formed oxides are rapidly reduced by excess aluminum, accelerating aluminum oxidation at low temperatures. The low-temperature thermally activated reactions lead to low ignition temperatures for the powders heated on the filament. Despite the low ignition temperatures, both prepared materials were relatively insensitive to ignition by an electric spark, making them attractive components of advanced energetic formulations. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/17bbb47e377ce023,147418ef1ef27aff,40935517392f86dd.html