Characterisation of aluminium nanopowder produced by evaporation–condensation method

Abstract

In the present paper, aluminium nanoparticles were produced using evaporation of metal at high temperatures, 1500°C, and subsequent cooling in cold argon gas. The samples were characterised in terms of composition, morphology, structure, particle size and surface area using complementary techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. It was found that the nanoparticles were covered by a crystalline oxide layer. In addition, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller results showed that the produced nanoparticles reached an average diameter of 85 nm under modified condition. Thermal analysis showed that the reactivity was affected by average particle diameter, size distribution and crystallinity of passivating oxide layer. The produced aluminium nanoparticles were compared with the micrometre sized and commercially available aluminium explosive (Alex) nanopowder. Results showed that the reactivity of broad size distribution Alex nanopowder is analogous to the narrow size distribution produced nanopowder even though the average particle size is larger for the Alex nanopowder.