Scientific Reports· 2026Q1
Under-water ignition and combustion of PDMS processed Al/CuO nanoparticle composite
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
PDMS-processed Al/CuO nanocomposite can be ignited underwater via laser irradiation, exhibiting a 2.3 ms ignition delay.
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Key points
- Hydrophobic Al/CuO nanocomposite prepared with PDMS remains dry underwater.
- Laser irradiation successfully ignites the composite underwater.
- Ignition delay under water was measured at 2.3 ms.
- Simulations show rapid cooling and condensation of water vapor during ignition.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This study investigates the fabrication and performance of hydrophobic nanothermite powders prepared by combining liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) prepolymers with thermite powders in a dispersion medium. The resulting composite remained dry when submerged underwater and could be ignited by laser irradiation. High-speed imaging measurements showed an ignition delay of 2.3 ms under underwater conditions. Finite-element simulations based on a two-phase flow model revealed rapid cooling and condensation of water vapor during ignition. Preliminary analysis of the bubble composition suggests the evolution of gaseous products from the thermite reactions. These results demonstrate the feasibility of underwater laser ignition of thermite–PDMS composites and provide insights into the complex physical and chemical processes involved in underwater combustion.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Scientific Reports, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Mechanics of Materials
Mechanics of MaterialsEngineering