Combustion and energy release characteristics of LiF- and AP-modified B/JP-10 suspension fuels prepared using a two-solvent method

B/JP-10 suspension fuel has very high energy density and high application prospects, but energy release during its actual combustion is incomplete. In this study, the surfaces of boron nanoparticles were modified by coating the particles with LiF and AP using a two-solvent method. Thermogravimetric experiments show that the ignition temperature of boron decreases from 772°C to 599°C when the LiF coating amount is 20 wt%. In a laser ignition experiment, the AP-modified B/JP-10 suspension fuel displayed a relatively obvious "microburst" phenomenon at the end of the combustion process . The "microburst" intensifies as the amount of AP coating increases; this behavior has positive implications for the release of energy from the boron in the fuel. The oxidation of boron in 10 wt% LiF-modified fuel increased from 26.35% to 36.22% without an increase in the ambient oxygen partial pressure . AP modification increases not only the oxidation rate of boron in the fuel but also the amount of oxidizing gas produced by decomposition, and this increases the burning intensity of JP-10. LiF and AP modification can destroy the shell layer of the agglomerates formed by the combustion of suspended fuels. LiF makes it difficult to close the shell layer by reacting with B 2 O 3 to form easily sublimated substances and flaky crystals. AP breaks the shell structure due to the high pressure generated by the "microburst", thus forming a porous configuration on the surface of the agglomerate.