Preparation and combustion properties of α-Fe2O3 coated Zr particles

Zirconium particles with irregular morphology and broad size distribution were uniformly coated by spherical α-Fe2O3 crystal grain via a facile route without polymer or surfactant as directing agents. The synthesized α-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray, UV–vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The synthesis mechanism could be explained by cooperated heterogeneous nucleation and solid state transformation reaction. The combustion properties of α-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles were investigated. Compared with Zr particles, the combustion lasting time decreased from 16 s of Zr particles to 0.13 s of α-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles, and the top point of temperature reached in combustion increased from 2004 °C of Zr particles to 2378 °C of α-Fe2O3/Zr particles.