Low-Cost Processing of Aluminum-Based Nanothermites

Innovative Materials and Processes, LLC proposes to develop and demonstrate a high throughput mixing/metering.drying system to enable i) scale-up water-based production of Al-Bi2O3 superhtermite and ii) assembly of medium caliber electric primers using this superthermite material. The R&D project includes specific tasks: 1) optimization of electrical and mechanical properties of Al-Bi2O3 nanothermite mixture to meet required specification of electric primers, 2) optimization of mixing, metering, and drying parameters for wet-loaded electric primers, and 3)testing of assembled medium caliber electric primers. Successful implementation of novel high throughput mixing/metering/drying system will enable large scale production of various types of primers. It is anticipated to explore the use of inexpensive aluminum nanoflakes in electric primer furmulations.