Reactive Boron Fuel for Energetic Applications

Elemental boron has one of the highest volumetric heat of combustions, yet because it is usually used as a metal powder its use as a combustion fuel is hampered by various factors that inhibit its complete combustion, including oxide passivation and formation of HBO2 instead of B2O3. Current methods to treat and alter boron and boron-based materials have not yet overcome these issues. TDA Research proposes to develop novel energetic molecular boron materials for use as combustion-enhancing additives to solid and liquid fuel formulations that are critical to Navy propulsion applications. Our new materials will solve the issues with incomplete boron combustion using innovative strategies to overcome the ener­getic “energy trap” issues, while employing new discrete high boron-content materials that are safe, non-sensitive, and scalable.  In Phase I we will establish proof-of-concept for new materials and formulations using a combination of chemical syntheses, detailed thermochemical and spectroscopic characterizations, and mechanistic analyses of combustion products. The new boron-containing materials will be tested to measure and rate their performance in fuel additive applications.