Tungsten combustion in impact initiated W-Al composite based on W(Al) super-saturated solid solution

Element W can effectively improve the density of energetic structural materials. However, W is an inert element and does not combust in air. To change the reaction characteristics of W, 60 at.% Al was introduced into W through mechanical alloying. XRD analysis shows that after 50 h of ball milling, the diffraction peak of Al completely disappears and W(Al60) super-saturated solid solution powder is obtained. Further observation by HAADF and HRTEM reveals that the W(Al60) super-saturated solid solution powder is a mixture of solid solution and amorphous phase. Based on the good thermal stability of W(Al60) alloy powder below 1000℃, W(Al60)-Al composite was synthesized by hot pressing process.Impact initiation experiments suggest that the W(Al60)-Al composite has excellent reaction characteristics, and multiple types of tungsten oxides are detected in the reaction products, showing that the modified W is combustible in air. Due to the combustion of tungsten, the energy release rate of the W(Al60)-Al composite at speed of 1362 m/s reaches 2.71 kJ/g.