Cryo-milling of coarse micron grade elemental boron powder was investigated for possible generation of nanosized boron powder. Process parameters were optimized for the least contamination and least particle size. The as-milled powders were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) for powder morphology, average particle size, and phase analysis. The particle size and surface area were also estimated using dynamic laser scattering (DLS) and BET techniques to correlate with the performance of the material. Thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) studies were performed to ascertain mass change and energy release in unmilled and milled powder. The average particle size of boron powder after 9 h of cryo-milling was<100 nm. The cryo-milled powder was made air-stable and dispersible in JP10 fuel by coating it with ligand through the mechanical milling method. The TOPO (tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide) coated nano boron powder exhibited dispersion stability for a week.

研究了粗微米级元素硼粉的低温研磨工艺，以求产生纳米级硼粉。优化了工艺参数以实现最小的污染和最小的粒度。研磨后的粉末通过扫描和透射电子显微镜（SEM / TEM）和X射线衍射（XRD）表征粉末的形态，平均粒径和相分析。还使用动态激光散射（DLS）和BET技术估算了粒径和表面积，以与材料的性能相关。进行了热重分析和差热分析（​​TG-DTA）研究，以确定未磨粉和磨粉中的质量变化和能量释放。低温研磨9小时后，硼粉的平均粒径小于100 nm。通过机械研磨方法用配体进行涂覆，使冷冻干燥的粉末在空气中稳定并分散在JP10燃料中。涂有TOPO（三正辛基氧化膦）的纳米硼粉显示了一周的分散稳定性。