Recently, the research team of Dr. Jin Jingtai, a powder/ceramic research headquarters of the Korea Materials Research Institute, has successfully developed a very fine aluminum powder surface treatment technology in Korea. Compared with the existing aluminum powder materials, the reactivity with oxygen has increased. More than 2 times, and can ensure the stability of the operation.

This technology removes the dense oxide film on the surface of the aluminum powder and coats the thermodynamically stable fluorinated organic compound. The organic coating can be easily removed at a lower temperature than the naturally formed oxide film. Fuel, in the production of high energy, aluminum powder can have high oxidation reactivity, in addition, the organic coating can make aluminum powder avoid direct contact with external oxygen, compared with aluminum, it is safer under normal temperature and pressure environment. store. 

When pure aluminum is combined with oxygen, the oxidation reaction rate is higher than that of other materials, and the heat generated is also high. The United States, Russia and other countries use aluminum powder as a rocket propellant, gunpowder and welding material by using the intense oxidation reaction of aluminum powder, which is widely used in the aviation, civil and defense military industries. Only when the surface of the dense and strong oxide film is completely removed, the excellent oxidation reactivity and electrical conductivity of the aluminum powder can be fully exerted, and this requires at least 1000 ° C of heat. Moreover, in the process of removing the oxide film, pure aluminum is directly exposed to the atmosphere, and it is highly probable that an explosion will occur, which is a problem for researchers of another aluminum powder. 

In order to solve these problems, the materials research team tried to easily remove the oxide film formed on the surface, using fluorine-containing organic compounds, which can improve the stability and reactivity of the aluminum powder itself. The coated aluminum powder can remove the organic coating at a temperature below 250 ° C, and the reaction speed can be increased by at least 2 times compared with the aluminum powder of the same size containing the oxide film. It is worth mentioning that With coating technology, it is easy to build related equipment and achieve mass production. 

In the future, this technology will help to improve the oxidation reactivity of aluminum powder, and can be used as a solid fuel material for artificial satellite launching rockets and a raw material for brazing. Combined with organic bonding and mixing technology, it can be used as a variety of electronic components including photovoltaic cells and high-conductivity metal flux materials, which is expected to increase the added value of aluminum powder, replacing imported powder materials. 

Jin Jingtai, head of the research team, said that if the technology is commercialized, aluminum powder can create great value in the field of defense and electronic parts and components, and will play a huge role in the development of Korean materials and technology. 
      
On the other hand, the research was supported by the “Multiscale Energetics Research Team” of the Korea Research Foundation's Technical Cooperation Basic Technology Development Business Unit, the Meta Materials Research Center and the Materials Research Institute.