Preparation, characterization, and combustion properties of NGO/GF/B composite system

Boron is a potential fuel for energetic materials due to its high volumetric and gravimetric energy density. However, its application has long been constrained by ignition difficulties and insufficient combustion. In this study, a mixture of NGO and GF was introduced as an additive to boron particles. We prepared NGO/GF-coated B complexes and performed several characterizations, showing that NGO combined with GF had a good coating effect on B. The combustion heat was measured by an oxygen bomb calorimeter, while the combustion mechanism was proposed. Its effect on the thermal decomposition behavior of AP was also analyzed. The results showed that the combustion efficiency of NGO/GF-modified B was significantly improved, which was 14.34% higher than that of pure B. This enhancement was attributed to the synergistic effect of NGO and GF, which promoted ignition and combustion by releasing heat, gases, and fluorocarbon radicals. In addition, both boron and NGO/GF-modified boron accelerated the decomposition of AP, especially, in the presence of NGO/GF, the decomposition temperature of AP was advanced by 73.2 °C compared to that in the presence of boron alone. These findings may provide valuable theoretical guidance for the design and potential application of NGO/GF modified boron in energetic materials.