Alexander S. Zhukov

Novel Micro- and Nanofuels: Production, Characterization, and Applications for High-Energy Materials

In this paper, the problems of production and characterization of nanosized metals (nanosized aluminum) and microsized metal borides (including aluminum, titanium, magnesium) are discussed. The preferences of application for high-energy materials are presented. Also, the technique for production of nanometals is described which is the electric explosion wire method. The results of characterization of nanometals produced by that method are shown and discussed. To protect an active surface of nanoparticles, the different ways for passivation are suggested. Different polymers including Viton and Fluorel are suggested as passivated agents. The problems of chemical stability and chemical compatibility are discussed. A technique for production of metal borides is also described which is known as self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and the subsequent mechanical treatment. The result is microsized borides which have an average size of around 5 μm with a sharp curve for distribution sizes. The purity is enough for use as fuel of high-energy materials. The results of TEM, SEM, X-ray, DSC, and TG analyses are also presented and discussed.

Thermal Shock-Resistant Ceramic Composites Based on Zirconium Dioxide1

Changes in structure, phase composition and crystal structure parameters are studied for materials of the ZrO2–MgO system after cyclic thermal shock effects. Features are revealed for formation of ceramic structure and phase condition with implementation of internal stresses connected with a sharp change in temperature. Optimum compositions are established for refractory materials based on ZrO2 answering high specifications for thermal shock resistance and refractoriness.

Plasma-chemical method for producing metal oxide powders and their application

Structure and properties of ZrO2 and Al2O3 powders produced using plasma chemical technique were studied in the framework of this research. Obtained Al2O3 powder was used for reinforcement of Al alloy. Improvement of mechanical properties of Al alloy associated with introduction of alumina particles into the melt was demonstrated.

Synthesis and Properties of Energetics Metal Borides for Hybrid Solid-Propellant Rocket Engines

In this paper, the problems of production and characterization of microsized metal borides (including aluminum, titanium, magnesium) are discussed. The preferences of application for high-energy materials are presented. The problems of chemical stability and chemical compatibility are discussed. A technique for production of metal borides is also described which is known as self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and the subsequent mechanical treatment. The result is microsized borides which have an average size of around 5 microns with a sharp curve for distribution sizes. The purity is enough for use as fuel of high-energy materials hybrid solid-propellant rocket engines. The results of SEM, X-Ray, DSC, and TG analyses are also presented and discussed.

Combustion Synthesis of Composition Ferroalloys

The main objective of this paper is to present results of the research in the development of a specialized self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) technology for ferroalloy composites, as applied to steelmaking. The problem of creating such a production cycle has been solved by developing a new approach to the practical implementation of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, as applied to metallurgy. The metallurgical variation of SHS is based on the use of different metallurgic alloys (including waste in the form of dust from ferroalloy production) as basic raw materials in the new process. Here, the process of synthesis by combustion is realized through exothermic exchange reactions. The process produces a composite, based on inorganic compositions with a bond of iron and/or alloy based on iron. It has been shown that in terms of the aggregate state of initial reagents, metallurgical SHS processes are either gasless or gas-absorbing. Combustion regimes significantly differ when realized in practice. To organize the metallurgical SHS process in weakly exothermic systems, different variations of the thermal trimming principle are used. In the present study, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of ferrovanadium nitride, which is widely used in steel alloying, was investigated. It has been shown that the phase composition of the initial alloy has a profound impact on the regular patterns in ferrovanadium combustion in nitrogen and on the mechanism itself. During the nitriding of σ-(Fe-V), process activation is taking place. The activation is due to the transformation of the intermetallide into an α-solid solution, when the temperature of phase transition is reached (~1200 °C). The composite structure of the products of ferrovanadium is nitriding by the fusion of particles-droplets composed of molten Fe and solid VN.

On the possibility to fabricate ceramics using fused deposition modeling

The paper presents a uniquely designed device that enables controlled manufacturing of semi-fabricated products from thermoplastic ceramic suspensions by fused deposition modeling. Sintering of the products yields ceramics with high strength and hardness. We use ceramic aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as an example to prove that additive ceramic structures can be produced without noticeable boundaries between layers of the material.

Morphology of ceramic particles produced by plasma-chemical synthesis

Thermal and diffusion processes in the droplet weakly concentrated metal salt solution during its heating in the plasma chemical reactor, in order to synthesize metal oxide powders are considered. Numerical study is based on previously proposed physical-mathematical model. The results of numerical calculations are analyzed to assess the possible influence of the operation parameters of the reactor and the characteristics of the initial solution (precursor) on the morphology of the particles formed.

Laser diagnostics of the centrifugal nozzle spray cone structure

A method for determining the three-dimensional distribution of droplet concentration in the centrifugal nozzle spray cone is proposed; the method is based on measuring the spectral transmission coefficient in laser scanning of the spray cone. The results of studying the spray cone structure depending on the pressure differential and the distance from the nozzle exit are presented.