Miraculous Al/PDF Composites Using NF₂ to Enhance the Energy Release of Al, Prepared Through an Efficient Method

To enhance the energy release of Al powder in solid propellant, ploy (difluoroaminomethyl-3-methylethoxybutane) (PDF), which has difluoroamino (NF₂), was utilized to improve energy and promote combustion efficiency. In this study, Al with three distinct powder sizes (29 μm, 13 μm, and 1~3 μm) was coated with PDF using the solvent/non-solvent method, leading to the formation of Al/PDF composites. The morphology and characteristics of Al/PDF were then characterized. The results demonstrated that all powder sizes of Al/PDF had core-shell structures, and NF₂ of the PDF layer on the Al surface maintained the original structure. The TG curves indicated the amount of the PDF layer related to the powder sizes. Furthermore, Al/PDF exhibited greater hydrophobicity. NF₂ prompted Al/PDF, with better catalysis on ammonium perchlorate (AP) decomposition. Compared to Al powder, the ignition delay of Al/PDF was significantly shortened. For mixed samples of Al/PDF and AP, NF₂ shorted the ignition delay, improving combustion stability, extending the combustion duration, and forming volatile fluorine compounds. These findings underscore the effects of NF₂ in Al/PDF composites, which enhances the energy release of Al and holds promising potential applications.