Nanoenergetics

[defiant]

There's a new field within energetics called nanoenergetics:

http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/01/wo/wo_gartner012105.asp?p=1

For those who are as new to the subject as I, here's a link to the book "Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry":

http://rapidshare.de/files/12385085/NMC.pdf.html

[defiant]

Here are a couple of more links to books on nano technology:

Nanostructured Materials : Selected Synthesis Methods, Properties and Applications

http://rapidshare.de/files/10312407/NMSSMPA.pdf.html
Password: www.AvaxHome.ru

Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology

http://rapidshare.de/files/3519559/Springer_handbook_of_nanotechnology-Bhushan.part1.rar.html
http://rapidshare.de/files/3519636/Springer_handbook_of_nanotechnology-Bhushan.part2.rar.html

OR:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K7CKI4GR
Password: www.Chipollo.Info

[Jacks Complete]

Ah, nano-tech! A good first post.

Of course, at tiny scales, the energy from a few chemical bonds is rarely enough to do anything impressive. Far better to use the principles of aekido and other martial arts, which re-direct the attackers energy to your ends.

100 molecules of nitroglycerine will do not very much, especially if spread out, but one "molecule" of bird flu will trigger a massive immune response. At tiny scales, a diamond or glass rod is effectively immortal, unlike the cells it can pierce, just like asbestos...

I shall enjoy reading this.

[nbk2000]

From an article I read last night about nano-explosives, they were saying that typical aluminum particles have only 1/10th of 1% of their atoms exposed on the surface. Whereas, nano-particulates, have almost 50% of their surface exposed as atoms, increasing reaction rates by 1,000x. :)

The total amount of energy may be the same, but the rate at which it is released makes the difference.

Like the difference between burning propane in a lamp, and the same amount of propane diffused through the room with a spark to liven things up. ;)

[Jacks Complete]

NBK, that's a good point. Smaller charges that react faster are going to be far more brissant than larger charges. I believe they are also far less likely to be activated by accident, due to the higher initial energy required.

I can see the day the US feilds nano-tech bullets that seek heat, and ensure a kill by finishing the job after they hit, or even attacking care workers (who are suspected terrorist sympathisers, and hence a valid target :-( ) and field medics who attend the wounded. The US will be the only ones to afford it, at least to begin with!

There is little that cannot, in theory, be done with nanotech. The practise is still a long, long way behind. However, things like very small explosive fuses, small gyroscopes (silicon wafers that can be fired from a cannon), and tiny stareing camera arrays are all coming along nicely.

[defiant]

Nanotech can be very sophisticated - particularly when aranging atoms into particular formation for nano processors and the like, which might eventually happen. But nano thermite appears to be far less complicated.

From my understanding, nano aluminum can be manufactured by directing current through aluminum that is immersed in an acid. This procedure is derived from a previously posted patent (or if not its saved and can be posted).

A more "involved" manufacturing procedure requires an aerosol reactor, which is described at:

http://www.engin.umich.edu/~cre/web_mod/aerosol/index.htm

In either case, research indicates that the iron oxide need not be nano size.

With regards to stability, conventional thermite is gernerally set off with a magnesium fuse, and is not particularly susceptible to accidental ignition. Nor is a magnesium fuse beyond the capability of the resourceful individual.

Nano scale particles do react differently than their larger counterparts, and its possible that nano-thermite would be more difficult to ignite than conventional thermite, but its equally likely that nano-thermite has similar ignition (iot in the case of nano-thermites "detonation") properties, or is even easier to set off due to the small particle size and less energy being required to cause a reaction.

Brute experimention or a chemical engineer familiar with nano tech would provide a more definitive answer.

[megalomania]

Considering the imminent possibility of small sized metallic particles being banned for pyrotechnic use, having knowledge of how to make these particles will be of vital importance to the independent experimenter. Hopefully the upsurge in research will provide some interesting tidbits applicable on the home manufacture scale.

[akinrog]

Here are some patents detailing how to make fine particulate aluminum. And in the patents it's stated that aeresol method cannot attain aluminum particles of the size specified therein (i.e. nano scale). Anyway enjoy
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