Effect of Metalwire Materials on the Energy Deposition in Electro-Chemical Coupling Explosions

To enhance the total output energy and power of energetic materials, plasma that generated by electrically exploded metal wires was employed to initiate the detonation of energetic materials, thereby achieving the coupled release of electrical and chemical energy. The voltage and current curves of electro-chemical coupling explosion were measured using a self-built experimental system under ambient temperature and pressure in air during the explosion process. The electro-chemical coupling explosion was divided into four typical phases: metal wire phase transition, current pause, plasma discharge, and oscillatory discharge. The research results indicate that the primary energy deposition of different metal materials occurs at different stages. Nickel and copper wires with medium boiling points and temperature coefficients of high resistance achieve efficient phase change energy deposition during the wire phase transition and current pause stages. During the plasma discharge stage, aluminum undergoes explosive vaporization due to fracture of the oxide layer. This process forms a highly conductive plasma owing to its low ionization energy, which leads to a significant leap in energy deposition. The resistance of tungsten increases sharply due to latent heat accumulation in the liquid phase, accounting for over 80% of its energy deposition during the plasma discharge stage. The study also reveals that the unique current pause phenomenon in electro-chemical coupling explosions is influenced by metal properties (such as temperature coefficient of resistance, boiling point, and latent heat of vaporization). Copper wires exhibit the longest current pause duration, while tungsten wires show no such phenomenon. This paper systematically investigates the power and energy deposition characteristics during electro-chemical coupling explosions, elucidates the influence mechanisms of metal materials on the energy release process, and provides experimental evidence and technical support for enhancing the total output energy and power of energetic materials.