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Nano-thermite

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A Nano-thermite or "super-thermite"[1] is a metastable intermolecular composite (MICs) characterized by a particle size of its main constituents, a metal and a metal oxide, under 1 micrometre. This allows for high and customizable reaction rates. Nano-thermites contain an oxidizer and a reducing agent, which are intimately mixed on the nanometer scale. MICs, including nano-thermitic materials, are a type of reactive materials investigated for military use, as well as for general applications involving propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics.

What distinguishes MICs from traditional thermites is that the oxidizer and a reducing agent, normally iron oxide and aluminium (WP), are in the form of extremely fine powders (nanoparticless). This dramatically increases the reactivity relative to micrometre-sized powder thermite. As the mass transport mechanisms that slow down the burning rates of traditional thermites are not so important at these scales, the reactions become kinetically controlled and proceed much more quickly, becoming less thermic and more explosive reactions.

In 2009, the use of nano-thermite was described in a paper by several independent scientists studying dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center.[2] The small flakes of a composite red and black material that researchers say is nano-thermite is a key element in World Trade Center controlled demolition theories (Wikipedia:World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories)[3][4]


World Trade Center destruction controversy[edit]

File:Steven Jones UCBerkeley.jpg
Dr. Steven Jones answering questions after a 2006 talk on the WTC destruction at UC Berkeley.
Content on this subject was deleted without discussion at Wikipedia:Nano-thermite

Steven E. Jones (WP) has asserted his views on the Wikipedia:collapse of the World Trade Center towers and Wikipedia:World Trade Center 7, finding that the use of nanothermite was involved in its destruction.

He called for further scientific investigation to test the controlled demolition theory and the release of all relevant data by the government.[5] Shortly after the seminar, Jones placed a paper "Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?" on his page in the Physics department website, with a note that BYU had no responsibility for the paper.[6]

Traces of thermite were found in the dust as grey/red flakes. Jones claims also that the thermite reaction products, aluminium oxide and tiny iron spheres were also in the dust[7]. Numerous witnesses including firefighters reported flows of molten metal in the wreckage, molten metal was found in the basements, and aerial spectography of the site weeks after the event found the temperature was still at 1400 Fahrenheit.

Jones favors controlled demolition (WP), and points to additional evidence; the speed and symmetry of the collapses, the characteristics of dust jets, eyewitness reports of explosions down low in the buildings, partially corroded beams, and lack of evidence of modern high rises collapsing from fire.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Jones has published several papers suggesting that the World Trade Center was demolished with explosives, but his 2005 paper, "Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?" was his first paper on the topic and was considered controversial both for its content and its claims to scientific rigor.[15]

In April 2009, Jones, along with Danish chemist Wikipedia:Niels H. Harrit, of the University of Copenhagen, published a paper in The Open Chemical Physics Journal, titled, 'Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe'.[16] The paper suggested that super-thermite or nano-thermite chips were discovered in the dust and was covered in the Danish press.[17]

In 2009, the use of nano-thermite was described in a paper by several independent scientists studying dust from the Wikipedia:collapse of the World Trade Center.[2] Informed of the findings, Wikipedia:NIST, the government agency charged with investigating the collapses, countered that there was no "clear chain of custody" proving that the dust came from the WTC site. Dr. Steven E. Jones, one of the researchers involved in the study, invited NIST to conduct its own studies with dust under custody by NIST itself.[18]

Prof. Kevin Howley Notes
"Changing Journalistic Attitudes" Toward 9/11 Questions
March 8, 2010
"The journal article presents the findings of an examination of dust from the site of the World Trade Center. The dust sample revealed traces of nano-thermite, a highly explosive substance that has been linked to classified military research."
http://www.depauw.edu/news/?id=24962
Danish scientist: an explosive nano material found in dust from the World Trade Center
3. 3. april 2009
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http://videnskab.dk/content/dk/teknologi/dansk_forsker_eksplosivt_nanomateriale_fundet_i_stovet_fra_world_trade_center&sl=da&tl=en
Explosive Theory
By Jay Levin and Tom McKenzie
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.09.09/cover-0936.html
"Apparently reinforcing this position, a team of three scientists working at technical laboratories in the United States and Denmark reported in April that analysis of dust that they say was gathered at the World Trade Center found evidence of the potent incendiary/explosive "super thermite," used by the military."
Niels Harrit on Norwegian State Television NRK 10th September 2009 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdjotWly-c8&feature=related
(The average number of viewers of this program is 487,000)
We All Fall Down
24 August 2009
By Eric S. Peterson
Utah Weekly
http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-8858-we-all-fall-down.html
"Jones and his colleagues theorized that a military-grade explosive called nano-thermite sliced through the building supports and brought down the buildings. Recently, they bolstered their theory with analysis of a mysterious powder collected from around New York City, a powder they asserted in the April 2009 Open Chemical Physics Journal was nano-thermite."
Nano-thermite took down the WTC?
Russia Today
"Niels Harrit explains to Russia Today how evidence for nanothermite has been found in the WTC. He suggests it is possible that thermite variants may have been used as well as conventional explosives. He also refutes the “primer paint” claim."
(it's on youtube, just type it in . . .)
Germany’s gulli.com Interviews Dr. Niels Harrit on Nanothermite at the WTC
"Some time ago, gulli.com featured the news about the work of a team of independent scientists from Denmark, USA and Australia. claim to have found a substance called Nano Thermite in the dust of the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York City. Nano Thermite is an explosive, normally only used by the military, not available on the normal market. It is a relative to thermite, a substance used for welding."
http://go.gulli.com/gulli/url/Niels_Harrit_Interview-english_done_by_gulli.com.pdf
Traces of explosives in 9/11 dust, scientists say
By Elaine Jarvik
Deseret News
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705295677,00.html
"For several years, Jones has theorized that pre-positioned explosives, not fires from jet fuel, caused the rapid, symmetrical collapse of the two World Trade Center buildings, plus the collapse of a third building, WTC-7. The newest research, according to the journal authors, shows that dust from the collapsing towers contained a "nano-thermite" material that is highly explosive."


Hazards[edit]

Like conventional thermite, super thermite reacts at very high temperature and is difficult to extinguish. The reaction produces dangerous ultra-violet (UV) light requiring that the reaction not be viewed directly, or that special eye protection (for example, a welder's mask) be worn.

The reactivity of a nanolaminate can vary, possibly making it more sensitive than thermite.[19] In addition, super thermites are very sensitive to Wikipedia:electrostatic discharge (ESD). Surrounding the metal oxide particles with carbon nanofibers may make nanothermites safer to handle.[20]


Potential uses[edit]

Historically, pyrotechnic or explosive applications for traditional thermites have been limited due to their relatively slow energy release rates. Because nanothermites are created from reactant particles with proximities approaching the atomic scale, energy release rates are far greater.[21]

MICs or Super-thermites are generally developed for military use, Wikipedia:propellants, explosives, and Wikipedia:pyrotechnics. Research into military applications of nano-sized materials began in the early 1990s.[22] Because of their highly increased reaction rate, nanosized thermitic materials are being studied by the U.S. military with the aim of developing new types of bombs several times more powerful than conventional explosives.[23] Nanoenergetic materials can store more energy than conventional energetic materials and can be used in innovative ways to tailor the release of this energy. Wikipedia:Thermobaric weapons are one potential application of nanoenergetic materials.[24]


Production[edit]

A method for producing nanoscale, or ultra fine grain (UFG) aluminium powders, a key component of most nano-thermitic materials, is the Wikipedia:dynamic gas-phase condensation method, pioneered by Wayne Danen and Steve Son at Wikipedia:Los Alamos National Laboratory. A variant of the method is being used at the Wikipedia:Indian Head Division of the Wikipedia:Naval Surface Warfare Center. Another production method for nanoaluminium powder is the pulsed plasma process developed by NovaCentrix (formerly Nanotechnologies).[25] The powders made by both processes are indistinguishable.[26] A critical aspect of the production is the ability to produce particles of sizes in the tens of nanometer range, as well as with a limited distribution of particle sizes. In 2002, the production of nano-sized aluminium particles required considerable effort, and commercial sources for the material were limited.[22] Current production levels are now beyond 100 kg/month.

An application of the Wikipedia:sol-gel method, developed by Randall Simpson, Alexander Gash and others at the Wikipedia:Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, can be used to make the actual mixtures of nanostructured composite energetic materials. Depending on the process, MICs of different density can be produced. Highly porous and uniform products can be achieved by Wikipedia:supercritical extraction.[22]


Ignition[edit]

Nanoscale composites are easier to ignite than traditional thermites. A Wikipedia:nichrome Wikipedia:bridgewire can be used in some cases. Other means of ignition can include flame or Wikipedia:laser pulse. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is developing super-thermite electric matches that use comparatively low ignition currents and resist friction, impact, heat and static discharge.[1]

MICs have been investigated as a possible replacement for lead (e.g. Wikipedia:lead styphnate, Wikipedia:lead azide) in Wikipedia:percussion caps and Wikipedia:electric matches. Compositions based on Al-Bi2O3 tend to be used. Wikipedia:PETN may be optionally added.[27][28] MICs can be also added to Wikipedia:high explosives to modify their properties. [29] Aluminium is typically added to explosives to increase their energy yield. Addition of small amount of MIC to aluminium powder increases overall combustion rate, acting as a burn rate modifier.[30]

The products of a thermite reaction, resulting from ignition of the thermitic mixture, are usually metal oxides and elemental metals. At the temperatures prevailing during the reaction, the products can be solid, liquid or gaseous, depending on the components of the mixture.[31] Super-thermite electric matches developed by LANL can create simple sparks, hot slag, droplet, or flames as thermal-initiating outputs to ignite other incendiaries or explosives.[1]


Types[edit]

There are many possible thermodynamically stable fuel-oxidizer combinations. Some of them are:

In military research, aluminium-Wikipedia:molybdenum oxide, aluminium-Wikipedia:Teflon and aluminium-copper(II) oxide have received considerable attention.[22] Other compositions tested were based on nanosized Wikipedia:RDX and with Wikipedia:thermoplastic Wikipedia:elastomers. Wikipedia:PTFE or other fluoropolymer can be used as a binder for the composition. Its reaction with the aluminium, similar to Wikipedia:magnesium/teflon/viton thermite, adds energy to the reaction.[32] Of the listed compositions, that with potassium permanganate has the highest pressurization rate.[33]

Nanoparticles can be prepared by Wikipedia:spray drying from a solution, or in case of insoluble oxides, Wikipedia:spray pyrolysis of solutions of suitable precursors. The composite materials can be prepared by Wikipedia:sol-gel techniques or by conventional wet-mixing and pressing.

Similar but not identical are nano-laminated pyrotechnic compositions, or energetic nanocomposites, in which fuel and oxidizer are deposited alternately in thin layers. The materials and the thickness of the layers control the detonating properties.[19]


See also[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lead-Free Super-Thermite Electric Matches. Los Alamos National Laboratory. URL accessed on December 2, 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Niels H., ({{{year}}}). "Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe," The Open Chemical Physics Journal, 2, .
  3. ↑ http://www.benthamscience.com/open/tocpj/articles/V002/7TOCPJ.htm?TOCPJ/2009/00000002/00000001/7TOCPJ.SGM Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe, Niels H. Harrit, Jeffrey Farrer, Steven E. Jones Kevin R. Ryan, Frank M. Legge, Daniel Farnsworth, Gregg Roberts, James R. Gourley and Bradley R. Larsen Pp 7-31
  4. ↑ http://www.investigate911.org Urgent: Scientists Confirm Explosives Used to Demolish Towers on 9/11...
  5. ↑ Jones, Steven E. Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?. URL accessed on 2008-09-09."I presented my objections to the “official” theory at a seminar at BYU on September 22, 2005, to about sixty people. I also showed evidence and scientific arguments for the explosive demolition theory."
  6. ↑ Jones, Steven E. Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?. Archived from source 2005-11-24. URL accessed on 2010-04-10.
  7. ↑ http://www.benthamscience.com/open/tocpj/articles/V002/7TOCPJ.htm?TOCPJ/2009/00000002/00000001/7TOCPJ.SGM
  8. ↑ Jones, Steven E What Caused Not Two but Three World Trade Center Skyscrapers to COMPLETELY Collapse on 9/11/2001?. (pdf) URL accessed on 2007-09-04.
  9. ↑ Jones, Steven E 9/11 Revisited: Scientific and Ethical Questions. URL accessed on 2007-09-04.Template:Dead link
  10. ↑ Riley, Michael (2006-10-29). "Backers hail 9/11 theorist's speech". Denver & The West (Denver Post). http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_4572518. Retrieved 2007-09-04. </li>
  11. ↑ Dean, Suzanne (2006-04-10). "Physicist says heat substance felled WTC". Deseret Morning News. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635198488,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-04. </li>
  12. ↑ Scholars For Truth Founder Is Keynote Speaker for Media Accountability Conference, Nov. 3 And 4. URL accessed on 2007-09-04.
  13. ↑ Analysis of the World Trade Center Destruction. Lifting the Fog: The Scientific Method Applied to the World Trade Center Disaster. URL accessed on 2007-09-04.
  14. ↑ The Twin Towers in scientific detail. Project for a New American Citizen: Rebuilding America's Senses. URL accessed on 2007-09-04.Template:Dead link
  15. ↑ Gravois, John (2006-06-23). "Professors of Paranoia?". The Chronicle of Higher Education 52 (42): p. A.10. http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i42/42a01001.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-03. "Soon after Mr. Jones posted his paper online, the physics department at Brigham Young moved to distance itself from his work. The department released a statement saying that it was 'not convinced that his analyses and hypotheses have been submitted to relevant scientific venues that would ensure rigorous technical peer review.'" </li>
  16. ↑ Harrit, Niels H Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe. (html) URL accessed on 2009-04-03.
  17. ↑ Hoffman, Thomas Danish scientist: nano explosive material found in the dust from the World Trade Center. (html) URL accessed on 2009-04-04.
  18. ↑ Levin, Jay; McKenzie, Tom (September 17, 2009). "The Elements of a Great Scientific and Technical Dispute". Santa Barbara Independent. http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/17/elements-great-scientific-and-technical-dispute/. Retrieved February 2, 2010. </li>
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 WIPO. (WO/2005/016850) Nano-laminate-based Ignitors. Wipo.int. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  20. ↑ Brown, Mike (November 5, 2010). "Nanofibres defuse explosives". Chemistry World (Royal Society of Chemistry). http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/November/05111001.asp. Retrieved 2010-12-20. </li>
  21. ↑ Effect of Al particle size on the thermal degradation of Al/teflon mixtures. Informaworld.com. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 James S., (2002). "The Coming Revolution: Science and Technology of Nanoscale Structures," AMPTIAC Quarterly, 6, .
  23. ↑ John, ({{{year}}}). "Military Reloads with Nanotech," MIT Technology Review, {{{volume}}}, .
  24. ↑ Novel Energetic Materials, GlobalSecurity.org
  25. ↑ Nanopowder Reactor Technology. URL accessed on 2010-10-12.
  26. ↑ Safety and Handling of Nano-aluminum. URL accessed on 2010-10-12.
  27. ↑ Metastable Intermolecular Composites (MIC) for Small Caliber Cartridges and Cartridge Actuated Devices (PDF). (PDF) URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  28. ↑ Selected Pyrotechnic Publications of K.L. and B.J. Kosanke. Jpyro.com. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  29. ↑ Los Alamos National Laboratory • Est 1943. Chemistry Division Capabilities. Los Alamos National Lab. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  30. ↑ Aluminum Burn Rate Modifiers Based on Reactive Nanocomposite Powders (PDF). (PDF) URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  31. ↑ A Survey of Combustible Metals, Thermites, and Intermetallics for Pyrotechnic Applications. URL accessed on July 17, 2009.
  32. ↑ 2002 Assessment of the Office of Naval Research's Air and Surface Weapons Technology Program, Naval Studies Board (NSB). Books.nap.edu. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.
  33. ↑ Reaction Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Nanothermite Propellants. Ci.confex.com. URL accessed on 2010-03-03.

    34. </ol>

External links[edit]

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