Formation of Boric Acid by Surface Oxidation of Amorphous Boron Powder: Characterization and Quantitative Estimation

Amorphous Boron Powder (ABP) is used as a fuel in air breathing propulsion systems due to its high gravimetric and volumetric heat value. ABP is sensitive to air and undergoes slow oxidation during storage and handling, leading to the formation of a boric acid layer on the particle surface. This paper describes an analytical method for the estimation of boric acid in ABP. In-house samples obtained from the pilot plant of this laboratory, as well as commercial samples, were assayed for their boric acid content. The study is substantiated by characterization of the ABP samples by SEM with EDX and FTIR. The ageing characteristics of in-house boron powder was also studied.