Enhanced energetic performance of AlB₂ fuel by incorporating nano and micro-sized Al particles

The low energy release rate of AlB₂ fuel constrains its application in energetic materials. In this work, the energy release rate of AlB₂ was augmented by incorporating Al particles in different sizes. The oxidation behavior, ignition, and combustion performance were studied using DSC/TG, combustion cell, and laser ignition experiments. The effect of Al with different size distributions on the energetic performance of AlB₂ has been investigated by analyzing combustion products. The results demonstrate that the addition of μmAl and nmAl can enhance the energy release rate of the AlB₂/AP effectively. However, nano and micro-sized Al powders exhibit distinct mechanisms for promoting the energy release rate of AlB₂ fuel. The μmAl facilitates the oxidation of AlB₂ at 800–1000 °C, accelerating the reaction. The nmAl ignites AlB₂ fuel at 500–600 °C, supplying energy for subsequent reactions. Adding Al with different particle sizes enhances combustion performance, benefiting the application of AlB₂ fuel.