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Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) can ofer high surface area (> 700 m2/g). MWNTs functionalized with energetic groups can find wide applications in advanced energetic systems. We coat MWNTs with copper through electroless plating and subsequently anneal the hybrid Cu-MWNT material at 250 °C to develop CuO-MWNT. TEM micrographs showed that MWNTs of 20–30 nm and 5–10 nm outer and inner diameters and 0.5–2.0 µm length were homogeneously decorated with CuO nanoparticles; XRD diffractograms revealed highly crystalline structure. Since CuO particles can act as effective oxidizer for aluminium in nanothermite applications. CuO-MWNTs were effectively dispersed with aluminium nanoparticles (100 nm) in isopropyl alcohol; subsequently colloidal nanothermite particles were dispersed into molten tri-nitro toluene (TNT). Upon initiation, the nanothermite colloid offered not only an increase in the shock wave strength of TNT by 29% using ballistic mortar test; but also an increae in brisance (destructive effect) by 15.6%. Futhermore the developed hybrid nanothermite offered an increase in the total heat release by 108% using DSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the great impetus of nanotechnology on energetic materials is the achievement of nanothermites (metal-oxide/metal) which are characterized by massive heat output. Yet, full exploitation of super-thermites in highly energetic systems has not been achieved. This manuscript reports on the sustainable fabrication of colloidal Fe 2 O 3 and CuO nanoparticles for thermite applications. TEM micrographs demonstrated mono-dispersed Fe 2 O 3 and CuO with an average particle size of 3 and 15 nm respectively. XRD diffractograms demonstrated highly crystalline materials. SEM micrographs demonstrated a great tendency of the developed oxides to aggregate over drying process. The effective integration and dispersion of mono-dispersed colloidal thermite particles into energetic systems are vital for enhanced performance. Aluminum is of interest as highly energetic metal fuel. In this paper, synthesized Fe 2 O 3 and CuO nanoparticles were re-dispersed in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) with aluminum nanoparticles using ultrasonic prope homogenizer. The colloidal thermite peraticles can be intgegrated into highly energetic system for subsequent nanocomposite development. Thanks to stabilization of colloidal CuO nanoparticles in IPA which could offer intimate mixing between oxidizer and metal fuel. The stabilization mechanism of CuO in IPA was correlated to steric stabilization with solvent molecules. This approach eliminated nanoparticle drying and the re-dispersion of dry aggregates into energetic materials. This manuscript shaded the light on the real development of colloidal thermite mixtures and their integration into highly energetic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]