title: Fabrication, characterization, and energetic properties of metallized fibers.
abstract: Polystyrene fibers loaded with an energetic blend of nanoaluminum (n-Al) and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) were successfully fabricated via electrospinning producing nanothermite fabrics. Fibers were generated with loadings up to 17 wt % n-Al/PFPE incorporated into the fiber. Microscopy analysis by SEM and TEM confirm a uniform dispersion of PFPE treated n-Al on the outside and inside of the fibers. Metallized fibers were thermally active upon immediate ignition from a controlled flame source. Thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) found no change in glass transition temperature when comparing pure polystyrene fibers with fibers loaded up to 17 wt % n-Al/PFPE. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed a shift in decomposition temperatures to lower onsets upon increased loadings of n-Al/PFPE blends, consistent with previous studies. Flame propagation studies confirmed that the metallized fibers are pryolants. These metallized fibers are a recent development in metastable intermolecular composites (MICs) and details of their synthesis, characterization, and thermal properties are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemistry Research Center, United States Air Force Academy , 2355 Fairchild Drive, Suite 2N225, USAF Academy, Colorado 80840, United States.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Keerti S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kappagantula
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pantoya
authors.forename: Sharon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kettwich
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Iacono