Combustion characterization and modeling of novel nanoenergetic composites of Co3O4/nAl

Nanoenergetic materials have been widely explored for obtaining rapid release of energy, burn-speeds and high pressurization rates. In this study, we have synthesized Co3O4 nanobelts via a simple solid-state process and further integrated as-prepared Co3O4 and calcined Co3O4 (at 400 degrees C for 4 hr) (Co3O4-400) with nano-aluminum (nAl) to realize novel bulk nanoenergetic systems of Co3O4/nAl and Co3O4-400/nAl respectively. The heat of reaction and combustion performance of these nanoenergetic systems are studied by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), combustion front-wave speed and pressure-time characteristics measurements. The heat of reaction has been measured to be 0.96 kJ g(-1) for Co3O4/nAl and 1.02 kJ g(-1) for Co3O4-400/nAl nanoenergetic systems. The Co3O4/nAl nanoenergetic system is able to develop mild peak pressure (12.6 +/- 1 to 20 +/- 2 MPa) and pressurization rate (0.08 +/- 0.05 to 0.14 +/- 0.05 MPa mu s(-1)) having a characteristics of low gas generation, which can be harnessed in low intensity pressure-pulse based microporation of soft matters like bacterial cells without any lysis. The calcined Co3O4 oxidizer is capable to develop more reactive nanoenergetic system than Co3O4/nAl, reflecting the generation of moderate peak pressure (26 +/- 2 to 32.6 +/- 3 MPa) and pressurization rate (0.29 +/- 0.1 to 0.47 +/- 0.1 MPa mu s(-1)). The propagating flames of (Co3O4/Co3O4-400)/nAl are observed accelerating during instrumented burn tube combustion experiment with front combustion front-wave speed ranging from 480 +/- 25 to 830 +/- 75 m s(-1). Through this paper, the Co3O4 nanoenergetic oxidizers can be utilized in the generation of low to moderate pressure pulses to transport biological materials to soft matters.