Influence of the oxidation degree of aluminum nanoparticles on the stability and combustion of Al/JP-10 nanofluid fuels

Hydrocarbon fuels doped with aluminum nanoparticles (ANPs) can enhance their combustion and energy output characteristics. However, there is an unknown impact of its oxidation degree on the stability and ignition and combustion performance (IACP) of nanofluid fuels. The experimental and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were combined to explore the impact of ANPs with varying degrees of oxidation on the stability and IACP of aluminum/JP-10 (Al/JP-10)-based nanofluid fuels. The unoxidized ANPs are better dispersed in JP-10 fuel. However, as the oxidation degree of the ANPs increases, their agglomeration in JP-10 increases, reducing the stability of Al/JP-10 fuels. Especially, the activation energy of the Al/JP-10 (ANPs) system also increases, leading to a 36.8 % longer ignition delay for JP-10 fuel. In addition, the oxidation of ANPs partially inhibits the reaction of the core Al, which delays the peak of the formation of Al cluster, and thus hindering the combustion behavior of the nanofluid fuel. At 2000 K, the oxidation of ANPs suppresses the thermal decomposition of JP-10, while at 3000 K, Al 2 O 3 exhibits the most pronounced catalytic influence on JP-10 combustion.