Arrested reactive milling

In general, there are three common ways of preparing nano-thermites these include arrested reactive milling, physical mixing, and sol-gel methodology. Changing from the microscale to the nano, these methods provide accessibility and use of different particle sizes, as well as materials with different degrees of contact between oxidizer and fuel. 

Despite the reason for the high combustion velocity being under debate, the high combustion velocity is in the range of explosive velocities, so the CuO/Al thermite may have application as a primary explosive. The more easily prepared, physically mixed CuO nanothermite has been patented for use in ammunition primers. Sensitivity data for the CuO /Al thermite is unavailable, but it is expected to be relatively high. High impact sensitivity may be the reason why there are no literature reports of its preparation by arrested reactive milling. 

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