Molecular dynamic simulation of thermite reaction of Al nanosphere/Fe2O3 nanotube

Abstract The letter presents thermite reactions of Al/Fe 2 O 3 nanothermites simulated by using molecular dynamic method in combination with ReaxFF. The variations in chemical bonds are measured to elaborate reaction process and characterize ignition performance. It is found that the longer interval is, the higher ignition temperature and the longer ignition delay system has. Additionally, the heating rate has much effect on ignition temperature. Under the temperature of 1450 K, oxygen is directly released from hematite nanotube, thermite reaction is deemed as a multiphase process. And, release energy of System2 is about 3.96 kJ/g. However, much energy rises from alloy reaction. Thermite reactions do not follow the theoretical equation, but are a complicated process.