To investigate the effect of the addition of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) on nanothermites, Al/MoO₃/PVDF energetic nanocomposites were prepared using electrospraying method. As a control group, Al/MoO₃ was also designed. Then, both samples were tested by FE-SEM, XRD and TG-DSC. TG-DSC results showed that the Al/MoO₃/PVDF energetic nanocomposites released more than 934.0 J g⁻¹ with two obvious exothermic peaks. Compared with the control group of 800.7 J g⁻¹ heat, it changed the thermal performance to some extent. There were Mo₂C among the residues products after the reaction via XRD. The activation energy (Ea) was analyzed using the Kissinger method under different heating rates by DSC. The addition of PVDF reduced the Ea of the thermites. To explore the combustion performance, a preliminary experiment was designed. The Al/MoO₃/PVDF energetic nanocomposites were easier to ignite and the burning was more durable, which was significant in solid propulsion and applications requiring extended combustion time.

When the Al/Ta/PTFE reactive material was sintered at 360 °C in a vacuum sintering furnace, it was found that the material reacted to form a soft fluffy white substance and carbon black. To explore the reaction process further, powder samples of pure PTFE, Al/PTFE, Ta/PTFE and Al/Ta/PTFE, and molded cylindrical specimens were prepared. A TG-DSC test was carried out on the thermal reaction of four reactive materials, and XRD phase analysis was conducted on the white product, formed by the sintering reaction and the residue of the TG-DSC test sample, based on which of the pyrolysis processes and reaction mechanisms were analyzed. The results show that Ta and PTFE could have a chemical reaction at sintering temperature (360 °C) to form soft and fluffy white material TaF₃ and carbon black, which can overflow the surface of the specimen and cause cracking of the specimen, which is tightly pressed. Since no obvious exothermic peak showed up on the TG-DSC curve, the composition of the residue of TG-DSC sample at different temperatures was tested and TaF₃ was detected in the residue at 350 °C and 360 °C, indicating that Ta began to react with PTFE at a temperature range of 340–350 °C. According to the chemical properties and product formation of Ta, it could be speculated that the reaction mechanism between Ta and PTFE involves the PTFE decomposing first, then the fluorine-containing gas product reacting with metal Ta. According to the temperature range of the reaction, it is estimated that PTFE starts to decompose before 500 °C, but it is not detected effectively by TG-DSC, and the introduction of Ta could also affect the decomposition process of PTFE.

To analyze the mechanical properties and reaction characteristics of Al-ZrH₂-PTFE (aluminum-zirconium hydride-polytetrafluoroethylene) composites under quasi-static compression, five types of specimens with different ZrH₂ contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%) were prepared by molding-vacuum sintering. The true stress-strain curves and reaction rates of the different specimens were measured using quasi-static compression. The specific reaction processes were recorded by a high-speed camera. The corresponding reaction products were characterized by the XRD phase analysis, the calorific value was tested by a Calorimeter, and the reaction mechanism was analyzed. According to the results, the strength of the composites increased first and then decreased with the increase in the content of ZrH₂. It reached a maximum of 101.01 MPa at 5%. Violent reaction occurred, and special flames were observed during the reaction of the specimens with 5% ZrH₂. With the increase in the content of ZrH₂, the chemical reaction was hard to induce due to the reduction in strength and toughness of composites. The reaction mechanism of Al/ZrH₂/PTFE reveals that high temperatures at crack tip induced the reaction of Al and PTFE. Subsequently, ZrH₂ decomposed to release hydrogen and generate ZrC. Calorimetric experiment shows that the calorific value of Al/ZrH₂/PTFE with 20% ZrH₂ is higher than that of Al/PTFE. The findings verify the potential of ZrH₂ as an energetic additive for the enhancement of strength and release of the energy of the composites.

To study the effect of the addition of potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) on the performance of nano thermites, Al/Bi₂O₃ nano thermites with different mass fraction (wt%) of KClO₄ was made by ultrasonic dispersion method. Then, all samples were tested by SEM, DSC and rapid excitation ignition. DSC results showed Al/Bi₂O₃/10 wt%KClO₄ had the highest heat release. Compared with Al/Bi₂O₃, the heat release increased by 28.32%. The results of activation energy calculations showed Al/Bi₂O₃/30 wt%KClO₄ had the lowest activation energy (Ea). Its activation energy was reduced by 30%, mere about 149.17 KJ mol⁻¹. Finally, it can be seen from the combustion situation that the addition of KClO₄ reduced the intensity of burning. This work found a way to increase the heat release or reduce the activation energy of nano thermites by controlling the amount of KClO₄ added.

This study performs a series of mechanical tests, quasi-static and dynamic, on CuCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) using an experimental setup to explore the performance of Cu-based HEAs in shaped charges. It derives the parameters for the Johnson–Cook constitutive model through fitting. A static penetration test is conducted with a small cone angle and a thin-walled liner. The outcomes are then compared to simulation data generated by AUTODYN software. They indicated that the CuCoCrFeNi HEA liner can produce a shaped-charge jet that achieves both penetration and reaming effects when driven by explosives. In a C45 steel target, the diameter of the penetration hole is 46.43% of the charge diameter. The experimental findings align closely with the simulations, indicating discrepancies of less than 12.13% in the diameters of the penetration holes and ∼2.56% in penetration depths. Hence, the numerical simulation approach and its parameters can be utilized to investigate the penetration characteristics of Cu-based HEA jets, providing a groundwork for future optimization of HEA-shaped charge designs.