Promotional effect of silica on the combustion of nano-sized aluminum powder in carbon dioxide

Abstract This paper presents how the combustion performance of nano-sized aluminum (nAl) powder in carbon dioxide are affected by silica. The ignition and combustion performance of nAl powder with silica addition were studied by a high-temperature tube furnace. An s-type thermocouple and a high-speed motion acquisition instrument were performed to evaluate the ignition temperature, maximum combustion temperature, maximum change of rate of temperature, and combustion propagation speed. The combustion efficiency and combustion products were measured and analyzed by a gas-volumetric method and an X-ray diffraction. The results show that silica added into nAl powder can enhance its maximum combustion temperature and maximum change of rate of temperature, while its ignition temperature increases slightly. The nAl powders with addition of 6.00 wt.% and 12.00 wt.% silica present high combustion propagation speeds, especially for the latter, it has high combustion efficiency. The effect mechanism of silica on the combustion of nAl powder in carbon dioxide was discussed.