Browsing by Author "Smith, Dylan K. (TTU)"
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Item Improving the Explosive Performance of Aluminum Nanoparticles with Aluminum Iodate Hexahydrate (AIH)(2018) Gottfried, Jennifer L.; Smith, Dylan K. (TTU); Wu, Chi Chin; Pantoya, Michelle L. (TTU)A new synthesis approach for aluminum particles enables an aluminum core to be passivated by an oxidizing salt: aluminum iodate hexahydrate (AIH). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that AIH replaces the Al2O3 passivation layer on Al particles that limits Al oxidation. The new core-shell particle reactivity was characterized using laser-induced air shock from energetic materials (LASEM) and results for two different Al-AIH core-shell samples that vary in the AIH concentration demonstrate their potential use for explosive enhancement on both fast (detonation velocity) and slow (blast effects) timescales. Estimates of the detonation velocity for TNT-AIH composites suggest an enhancement of up to 30% may be achievable over pure TNT detonation velocities. Replacement of Al2O3 with AIH allows Al to react on similar timescales as detonation waves. The AIH mixtures tested here have relatively low concentrations of AIH (15 wt. % and 6 wt. %) compared to previously reported samples (57.8 wt. %) and still increase TNT performance by up to 30%. Further optimization of AIH synthesis could result in additional increases in explosive performance.Item The water–iodine oxide system: a revised mechanism for hydration and dehydration(2017) Smith, Dylan K. (TTU); Pantoya, Michelle L. (TTU); Parkey, Jeffrey S.; Kesmez, MehmetIodic acids are widely studied in atmospheric and biological applications but their inherent hydrophilic properties introduce complexities that affect their functionality and reactivity. We have shown that iodic acid (HIO3) dehydrates directly into iodine pentoxide (I2O5) in contradiction to the generally accepted multi-step dehydration mechanism where HIO3 dehydrates into HI3O8 first, then dehydrates into I2O5. The generally accepted mechanism is used to determine the concentration of iodic acid by TGA and is only valid for special conditions. The revised mechanism allows for the determination of concentrations of iodic acids under all conditions, and the more specific conditions where the accepted mechanism is valid are shown. The determination of concentration of iodic acid with the revised dehydration mechanism is dependent on assumptions of residual water and initial concentration of HI3O8. The validity of these assumptions is established by studying the absorption and hydration behavior of I2O5 from atmospheric water. These results will have an impact on the handling and use of iodine.