Tuning the reactivity and combustion characteristics of PTFE/Al through carbon nanotubes and grapheme

Nanoenergetic composites composed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and fuel (Aluminum) have potential applications in the military and civilian fields owing to high energy density and exothermic reaction. Herein, the ignition, energy output and combustion characteristics of Al/PTFE were tuned by employed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene based on high thermal conductivity. The highest output energy and combustion speed of PTFE/Al with 3 wt% CNTs are 3158 J/g and 397 m/s, respectively, which are higher than that of PTFE/Al (2106 J/g and 260 m/s) and PTFE/Al with graphene (2201 J/g and 286 m/s). The onset reaction temperature and ignition delay time of PTFE/Al with 3 wt% CNTs are reduced by 80 °C and 0.21 ms, respectively. Furthermore, the flame structure of PTFE/Al with graphene is significantly changed from semicircle to spiculate. This work provides efficient approach to improve reactivity and combustion properties and understand the heat transfer in combustion reaction process of PTFE/Al.