Oxidation of boron modified with vanadium pentoxide

The oxidation of amorphous boron powders modified with vanadium pentoxide were studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray phase analysis, and electron microscopy. The modification was carried out by mixing powders with vanadium-containing gels: V$_2$O$_5$ $\cdot$ $n$H$_2$O hydrogel and V(OCH$_2$)$_2$ $\cdot$ $n$(HOCH$_2$)$_2$ oleogel. It was found that adding 2 wt.% V$_2$O$_5$ to the amorphous boron powder led to a decrease of 200$^{\circ}$C in the temperature at the onset of its intense oxidation and to a 25% increase in the specific heat release during interaction under heating in air at a rate of 10$^{\circ}$C/min. The reaction of boron with vanadium pentoxide is considered within the framework of a boron thermal process model.