Nanometer-sized aluminum powder was synthesized by thermal decomposition of an alane solution in the presence of a titanium catalyst under an inert atmosphere. The resulting material, formally devoid of an oxide layer, was used to reduce complexes of gold, nickel, palladium, and silver. The reduction process yielded materials that contained the transition metal at a level between 1 and 3 atom % on a metals basis, as determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. After exposure to air at ambient conditions, the transition metal treated aluminum materials were found to contain less aluminum oxide than an aluminum sample that was not treated with a transition metal. The nickel treated sample contained as much or more metallic aluminum as the untreated aluminum sample, indicating that the passivating layer in the nickel treated aluminum was highly efficient at protecting the underlying aluminum.

A brief description of an apparatus for testing the electrostatic discharge ignition threshold for sensitive materials is presented. This apparatus was used to demonstrate how fluorocarbons could alter the propensity of a nanothermite to ignite. In addition to these findings, the effect of the fluorocarbon on the pressure output of the material is reported.

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