Nanoparticle AlxMoyOz/Al Thermites

A new process to control the reactivity of thermites containing molybdenum trioxide (MoQ) and aluminium (AI) has been developed at the Institut franco-allemand de recherches de Saint Louis (ISL). This process consists to elaborate by a new sol-gel method nano-sized mixed Alx,MOyoO phases whose structure is correlated to the chemical composition. It is so possible to adjust the energetic properties of the thermites obtained through physical mix of these phases with nano-sized aluminium (Al 50-P, Nanotechnologies). The resulting nanothermites are very insensitive to mechanical and thermal stresses, but can be easily ignited by the energy brought by a laser beam. The nano-structuring of the oxidative phase decreases the sensitivities, shortens the ignition delay times and dramatically increases the combustion rates. These promising characteristics allow considering these metastable interstitial composites (MICs) as potential components for insensitive weapon ignition systems.