Regular Article

Energetic initiators with narrow firing thresholds using Al/CuO Schottky junctions

School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China

^a e-mail: zhupeng@njust.edu.cn

Received: 14 April 2016
Revised: 27 June 2016
Accepted: 30 June 2016
Published online: 26 July 2016

Abstract

We designed and prepared Schottky-junction-based Al/CuO energetic initiators with narrow firing thresholds according to Schottky barrier theory. Using various characterization methods, we preliminarily investigated the electrical breakdown property, withstand strike current ability, and multiple-firing performance of the energetic initiators. The breakdown voltage of the Al/CuO Schottky junction was ~8 V; and electrical breakdown in the initiators occurred one by one rather than simultaneously. The withstand strike current ability of the initiator mainly depended on the heat capacity of its ceramic plug when the electrical stimulus is more than ~8 V, its breakdown voltage. The ceramic plug can absorb heat from the initiator chip, letting the initiator withstand a constant current of 0.5 A for 20 s. More importantly, the initiators might be able to withstand hard electromagnetic interference by coupling the multiple-firing performance with an out-of-line slider in the explosive train. This knowledge of the characteristics of Schottky-junction-based Al/CuO energetic initiators will help in preparing highly insensitive, efficient initiating explosive devices for weapon systems.