Phosphorus-based nanothermites: A new generation of energetic materials

Thermites are energetic materials that are classically made of a transition metal oxide mixed with a reducing metal. Contrary to explosives, thermites do not detonate because their combustion is relatively slow and their reaction by-products are often solid or liquid. The use of nanoparticles to prepare superthermites is very promising. The dramatic changes observed in their reactivity were reported by numerous recent papers dealing with the use of aluminium as fuel.Red phosphorus is widely used in pyrotechnic devices. Highly explosive compositions are classically obtained by mixing this substance with strong oxidizers such as oxygenated potassium salts (chlorate, nitrate). But to our knowledge, the idea to prepare P-nanothermites with metallic oxide nanoparticles was never reported before. In order to illustrate this new concept of energetic formulations, P-nanothermites were prepared from nickel oxide (NiO), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), and copper oxide (CuO) nanopowders. The reactivity of these compositions was studied by thermogravimetric analysis, impact and friction tests, electrostatic discharge and high-speed cinematography. P-nanothermites are very insensitive to thermal and impact stress. Their combustion rates strongly depend on the nature of the oxide (NiO 2O₃?CuO). The SEM observation of the microstructure of the residues produced by the combustion clearly indicates that they were formed by the solidification of molten phases. In other words, the energy released by the combustion of P-nanothermites provokes the melting of the reaction products. The temperatures reached are thus high enough to cause the gasification of phosphoric anhydride produced by the combustion. For this reason, P-nanothermites can be considered gas-generating materials.