Superior reactivity of ferroelectric Bi2WO6/aluminum metastable intermolecular composite

Abstract Recently, the interest in exploring energetic materials beyond their basic reactive properties has grown. One such potential approach is to tune the sensitivity or reactivity by piezoelectric response to an external electric field. A wide selection of oxidizers including ferro/piezoelectric materials makes ideal candidates for such applications. Herein, ferroelectric bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) has been explored as an oxidizer for aluminum-based MICs. The reactivity of Al/Bi2WO6, Al/Bi2O3, Al/WO3 and Al/(Bi2O3 + WO3) composites was measured using a combustion cell, temperature-jump time-of-flight mass spectrometry and high-speed imaging. Al/Bi2WO6 shows a pressurization rate almost ten times higher than that of Al/Bi2O3, with a reaction that initiates in the condensed phase with a relatively low ignition temperature (920 K). The volatility of bismuth leads to vigorous release of gaseous species, which can promote heat convection and reduce reactive sintering leading to a highly reactive system.