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Review

Preparation Technology, Reactivity and Applications of Nano-Aluminum in Explosives and Propellants: A Review

Xi’an Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi’an 710065, China
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1564; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201564
Submission received: 18 June 2025 / Revised: 29 September 2025 / Accepted: 4 October 2025 / Published: 14 October 2025

Abstract

Aluminum powder is the most commonly used metal fuel in the industry of explosives and propellants. The research progress in preparation technology, reactivity and application of nano-aluminum in explosives and propellants is systematically reviewed in this paper. The preparation technology of nano-aluminum powder includes mechanical pulverization technology (such as the ball milling method and ultrasonic ablation method, etc.), evaporation condensation technology (such as the laser induction composite heating method, high-frequency induction method, arc method, pulsed laser ablation method, resistance heating condensation method, gas-phase pyrolysis method, wire explosion pulverization method, etc.), chemical reduction technology (such as the solid-phase reduction method, solution reduction method, etc.) and the ionic liquid electrodeposition method, each of which has its own advantages. Some new preparation methods have emerged, providing important reference value for the large-scale production of high-purity, high-quality nano-aluminum powder. The reactivity differences between nano-aluminum powder and micro-aluminum powder are compared in the thesis. It is clear that the reactivity of nano-aluminum powder is much higher than that of micro-aluminum powder in terms of ignition performance, combustion performance and reaction completeness, and it has a stronger influence on the detonation performance of mixed explosives and the combustion performance of propellants. Nano-aluminum powder is highly prone to oxidation, which seriously affects its application efficiency. In addition, when aluminum powder oxidizes or burns, a surface oxide layer will be formed, which hinders the continued reaction of internal aluminum powder. In addition, nano-aluminum powder may deteriorate the preparation process of explosives or propellants. To improve these shortcomings, appropriate coating or modification treatment is required. The application of nano-aluminum powder in mixed explosives can improve many properties of mixed explosives, such as detonation velocity, detonation heat, peak value of shock wave overpressure, etc. Applying nano-aluminum powder to propellants can significantly increase the burning rate and improve the properties of combustion products. It is pointed out that the high reactivity of nano-aluminum powder makes the preparation and storage of high-purity nano-aluminum powder extremely difficult. It is recommended to increase research on the preparation and storage technology of high-purity nano-aluminum powder.
Keywords: nano-aluminum; preparation technology; reactivity; application; explosives and propellants nano-aluminum; preparation technology; reactivity; application; explosives and propellants

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MDPI and ACS Style

Guo, H.; Zhang, W.; Pang, W. Preparation Technology, Reactivity and Applications of Nano-Aluminum in Explosives and Propellants: A Review. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1564. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201564

AMA Style

Guo H, Zhang W, Pang W. Preparation Technology, Reactivity and Applications of Nano-Aluminum in Explosives and Propellants: A Review. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(20):1564. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201564

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guo, Huili, Weipeng Zhang, and Weiqiang Pang. 2025. "Preparation Technology, Reactivity and Applications of Nano-Aluminum in Explosives and Propellants: A Review" Nanomaterials 15, no. 20: 1564. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201564

APA Style

Guo, H., Zhang, W., & Pang, W. (2025). Preparation Technology, Reactivity and Applications of Nano-Aluminum in Explosives and Propellants: A Review. Nanomaterials, 15(20), 1564. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201564

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