A propellant applied to a thruster, especially a pulsed plasma thruster, has a composition including a polymer and a metal powder material mixed with the polymer. A method of manufacturing the propellant includes dissolving polymer particles in a solvent for generating a solution, adding a powdered metal material to the solution for obtaining a mixture, and drying the mixture for removing the solvent from the mixture. Accordingly, a dried mixture is acquired and defined as a metal composite polymer which serves as the composition of the propellant. Accordingly, the use of the propellant allows a decrease in the voltage involved in a punching process and an efficient reduction in the energy consumption and assists the thruster in increasing the propulsive efficiency.

Disclosed herein are exothermic reaction mixtures that can be used for copper-based thermite reactions. The disclosed exothermic reaction mixtures can be advantageously formulated with synthetically made copper oxide(s), which can improve consistency and stability of thermite reactions. An example exothermic reaction mixture includes an alloy comprising copper and aluminum and a metal oxide comprising Cu.sub.2O and CuO. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the exothermic reaction mixture and methods of welding that include the exothermic reaction mixture.

Disclosed herein are exothermic reaction mixtures that can be used for copper-based thermite reactions. The disclosed exothermic reaction mixtures can be advantageously formulated with synthetically made copper oxide(s), which can improve consistency and stability of thermite reactions. An example exothermic reaction mixture includes an alloy comprising copper and aluminum and a metal oxide comprising Cu.sub.2O and CuO. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the exothermic reaction mixture and methods of welding that include the exothermic reaction mixture.

Exploding thermite compositions and methods. A composition may comprise a metal powder and a metal oxide powder. The composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation. A method for producing a thermite composition may comprise providing one or more metal oxide powders and providing one or more metal powders. The method may also include homogenously combining the one or more metal oxide powders with the one or more metal powders to form the thermite composition. The resulting thermite composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.

Exploding thermite compositions and methods. A composition may comprise a metal powder and a metal oxide powder. The composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation. A method for producing a thermite composition may comprise providing one or more metal oxide powders and providing one or more metal powders. The method may also include homogenously combining the one or more metal oxide powders with the one or more metal powders to form the thermite composition. The resulting thermite composition may produce an explosion hazard upon receiving a thermite reaction activation.

A thermite composition for a process of plugging and abandoning a petroleum well comprises a tube-scaling composition and a gas leakage-preventing composition. The tube-scaling composition comprises aluminium and a metal oxide, and the gas leakage-preventing composition comprises a metal or an alloy with a melting point ranging from 100-300 C. The tube-scaling composition is arranged at the bottom, followed by the gas leakage-preventing composition. The thermite composition further comprises a tube-opening composition comprising aluminium and a metal oxide. The process of plugging and abandoning a petroleum well using the thermite composition involves introducing the thermite composition which is arranged in layers in the petroleum well to be plugged and abandoned, and initiating an ignition to trigger a thermite reaction, which melts the metal for tube sealing and prevents gas leakage.

A thermite composition for a process of plugging and abandoning a petroleum well comprises a tube-scaling composition and a gas leakage-preventing composition. The tube-scaling composition comprises aluminium and a metal oxide, and the gas leakage-preventing composition comprises a metal or an alloy with a melting point ranging from 100-300 C. The tube-scaling composition is arranged at the bottom, followed by the gas leakage-preventing composition. The thermite composition further comprises a tube-opening composition comprising aluminium and a metal oxide. The process of plugging and abandoning a petroleum well using the thermite composition involves introducing the thermite composition which is arranged in layers in the petroleum well to be plugged and abandoned, and initiating an ignition to trigger a thermite reaction, which melts the metal for tube sealing and prevents gas leakage.

A method and associated system of energy production, the method including providing core-shell thermite particles and combusting the core-shell thermite particles in a dispersed group to produce heat. The combustion of the core-shell thermite particles may proceed according to various core-shell thermite group combustion modes.

A method and associated system of energy production, the method including providing core-shell thermite particles and combusting the core-shell thermite particles in a dispersed group to produce heat. The combustion of the core-shell thermite particles may proceed according to various core-shell thermite group combustion modes.

A functionally-graded regolith-based energetic fuel and methods for powering heating systems to help humans and equipment operate in harsh lunar conditions are disclosed. A muti-functionally graded material includes energetic particles comprising a metallic fuel and a regolith-based oxidizer. The energetic particles and the regolith-based oxidizer are mixed to form an energetic material. A regolith-based combustible material is disclosed comprising: micro-magnesium in 20%, 30% or 40% w/w; and a regolith-based oxidizer, wherein the material is ball milled for up to 5 hours.