The synergy of polyvinylidene fluoride and CuO to enhance the combustion of boron powder

Boron (B) powder is considered to be an excellent fuel for propulsion applications due to its remarkable energy density. However, B is severely affected by boron oxide (B₂O₃) on its surface. To solve this problem, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and copper oxide (CuO) coatings were applied onto B particles, leveraging their synergistic effects to enhance the ignition and combustion performance (ICP) of B. Various characterization methods and CO₂ laser ignition experiments were used to determine how PVDF and CuO impact B combustion. PVDF and CuO are helpful to improve the ICP of B. Especially for the (B/CuO₄)@PVDF₁₆ sample, it exhibits 28.2% higher combustion heat, 46.4% shorter ignition delay, and flame expansion rate (FER) increases from 0.091 to 0.280 m s⁻¹ versus unmodified B. Furthermore, PVDF suppresses B powder agglomeration during combustion. The present work provides a new idea for improving the combustion of B powder.