Multilayered Al/Ni energetic structural materials with high energy density and mechanical properties prepared by a facile approach of electrodeposition and hot pressing

With an aim to fabricate multilayered Al/Ni energetic structural materials integrating high energy density and mechanical properties, a facile approach of electrodeposition and hot pressing was employed in this study. The effect of hot pressing time on exothermic reactions and mechanical properties has been systematically investigated. It was found that the exothermic heat of Al/Ni energetic structural materials decreased from 1003J/g to 782J/g, while the hot pressing process increased from 0.5 h to 4 h, and the initial exothermic reaction temperature declined simultaneously. Because of the increasing crystallite sizes of Ni and Al layers at hot pressing time of 1 h, Al/Ni multilayered materials acquired the maximum elongation, the minimum tensile strength and the lowest compressive strength. As the hot pressing process exceeded 2 h, the elongation deteriorated sharply and the compressive strength aggrandized significantly owing to the formation of the hard brittle Al3Ni phases in Al/Ni interfaces.