Ignition of Mechanically Activated Aluminum Powders Doped with Metal Oxides

Use of mechanical milling to increase micrometric powder reactivity is of interest due to several intrinsic advantages of this technique (e. g. versatility and safety). In this work, 30 μm propulsion-grade aluminum has been activated with and without metal oxides. The powders so obtained were characterized in terms of particle size distribution, metal content, morphology, and ignition temperature. This last parameter represents a good indicator to rate the reaction properties of powders and the effects of activation parameters on the final product. All the ingredients containing metal oxides feature an enhanced reactivity as a consequence of both additives and modification of particle morphology.