Introduction to Nanotechnology and Defense applications (ie: Nanothermites, Superthermites)

[rollingrock]

Background information on a radical science called nanotechnology.


KQED program: Introduction to Nanotechnology
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4CjZ-OkGDs





Nanotechnology, defense-related areas of applications and research

Metastable intermolecular composites (MICs)

Metastable intermolecular composites (MICs), also called super-thermites or superthermites, are pyrotechnic compositions containing an oxidizer and a reducing agent which undergoes a very powerful exothermic reaction when heated to a critical temperature. They are variants of thermite compositions. MICs are a type of reactive materials investigated for military use.

What separates MICs from traditional thermites is that the oxidizer and a reducing agent, normally iron oxide and aluminum are not a fine powder, but rather nanoparticles. This dramatically increases the reactivity relative to micrometre-sized powder thermite. As the mass transport mechanisms that slow down the burning rates of traditional thermites are not so important at these scales, the reactions become kinetically controlled and much faster.

There are many possible thermodynamically stable fuel-oxidizer combinations. However, only a handful have been investigated. Some of them are:

* Aluminium-molybdenum(VI) oxide
* Aluminium-copper(II) oxide
* Aluminium-iron(III) oxide
* Antimony-potassium permanganate
* Aluminium-potassium permanganate
* Aluminium-bismuth(III) oxide
* Aluminium-tungsten(VI) oxide hydrate
* Aluminium-fluoropolymer (typically Viton)
* Titanium-boron (burns to titanium diboride)

Other compositions tested were based on nanosized RDX and with thermoplastic elastomers.

PTFE or other fluoropolymer can be used as a binder for the composition. Its reaction with the aluminium, similar to magnesium/teflon/viton thermite, adds energy to the reaction. <1>

Of the listed compositions, the Al-KMnO4 one shows the highest pressurization rates, followed by orders of magnitude slower Al-MoO3 and Al-CuO, followed by yet slower Al-Fe2O3. <2>

The nanoparticles can be prepared by spray drying from a solution, or in case of insoluble oxides, spray pyrolysis of solutions of suitable precursors. The composite materials can be prepared by sol-gel techniques or by conventional wet mixing and pressing.

The nanoscale composites are easier to ignite than traditional thermites. A nichrome bridgewire can be used in some cases. Other means of ignition can include flame or laser pulse.

MICs are investigated as possible replacement for lead (e.g. lead styphnate, lead azide) containing percussion caps and electric matches. Compositions based on Al-Bi2O3 tend to be used. PETN may be optionally added. <3><4>

MICs can be also added to high explosives to modify their properties. <5> Aluminium is typically added to explosives to increase their energy yield. Addition of small amount of MIC to aluminium powder increases overall combustion rate, acting as a burn rate modifier. <6>


Similar but not identical systems are nano-laminated pyrotechnic compositions. The fuel and oxidizer is not mixed as small particles, but deposited as alternating thin layers. <7>


External links

* Performance of Nanocomposite Energetic Materials Al-MoO3
*
*

January 21, 2005, Technology Review
Military Reloads with Nanotech

Smaller. Cheaper. Nastier. Those are the guiding principles behind the military's latest bombs. The secret ingredient: nanotechnology that makes for a bigger boom.

By John Gartner




Nanotechnology is grabbing headlines for its potential in advancing the life sciences and computing research, but the Department of Defense (DoD) found another use: a new class of weaponry that uses energy-packed nanometals to create powerful, compact bombs.

With funding from the U.S. government, Sandia National Laboratories, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are researching how to manipulate the flow of energy within and between molecules, a field known as nanoenergentics, which enables building more lethal weapons such as "cave-buster bombs" that have several times the detonation force of conventional bombs such as the "daisy cutter" or MOAB (mother of all bombs).

Researchers can greatly increase the power of weapons by adding materials known as superthermites that combine nanometals such as nanoaluminum with metal oxides such as iron oxide, according to Steven Son, a project leader in the Explosives Science and Technology group at Los Alamos.

"The advantage (of using nanometals) is in how fast you can get their energy out," Son says.

Son says that the chemical reactions of superthermites are faster and therefore release greater amounts of energy more rapidly.

"Superthermites can increase the (chemical) reaction time by a thousand times," Son says, resulting in a very rapid reactive wave.

Son, who has been working on nanoenergetics for more than three years, says that scientists can engineer nanoaluminum powders with different particle sizes to vary the energy release rates. This enables the material to be used in many applications, including underwater explosive devices, primers for igniting firearms, and as fuel propellants for rockets.

However, researchers aren't permitted to discuss what practical military applications may come from this research.

Nanoaluminum is more chemically reactive because there are more atoms on the surface area than standard aluminum, according to Douglas Carpenter, the chief scientific officer at nanometals company Quantumsphere.

"Standard aluminum covers just one-tenth of one percent of the surface area (with atoms), versus fifty percent for nanoaluminum," Carpenter says.

Carpenter says the U.S. military has developed "cave-buster" bombs using nanoaluminum, and it is also working on missiles and torpedoes that move so quickly that they strike their targets before evasive actions can be taken.

"Nanoaluminum provides ultra high burn rates for propellants that are ten times higher than existing propellants," says Carpenter.... (more)

www.technologyreview.com/computing/14105/?a=f

link to www.cnanotech.com

Houston, Texas, January 24, 2002 -
Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (CNI) said today that it has stepped up efforts to develop applications utilizing single-wall carbon nanotubes for defense and national security purposes. CNI has engaged the noted consulting firm of Technology Strategies & Alliances (TSA), headquartered in Burke, Virginia, near Washington, D. C., to assist in the strategic market development of national defense directed products. The company believes that an accelerated research effort will bring new and significantly improved products to market that can enhance national defense.

"The U.S. Department of Defense, the Navy, Air Force, Army, and NASA have been involved for some time in extensive research using single-wall carbon nanotubes or 'Buckytubes'," said Bob G. Gower, President of CNI. "We believe that Buckytubes can significantly enhance the ability of defense products to shield, absorb, or otherwise modify electro-magnetic signals, key needs in many mission-critical areas...

Center for NanoEnergetics Research
http://www.me.umn.edu/~mrz/CNER.htm
CNER is an Army funded center created in the spring of 2001 and exists at four university sites, with the University of Minnesota as the lead institution.


http://www.me.umn.edu/~mrz/CNER.htm
External Advisors-Collaborators

Dr. Alex Gash,Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Dr. Carl Melius,Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Dr. Andrzej Miziolek,Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
Dr. Betsy Rice,Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
Prof. Mintmire Oklahoma State University



link to www.cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/nano_exchange_...
...Very little is known about the safety risks presented by engineered nanomaterials. From currently available information, the prevalent safety risks are most likely to involve catalytic effects or fire and explosion hazards....


"....Although insufficient information exists to predict the fire and explosion risk associated with nanoscale powders, nanoscale combustible material could present a higher risk than a similar quantity of coarser material...
...The greater activity of nanoscale materials forms a basis for research into nanoenergetics. For instance, nanoscale Al/MoO3 thermites ignite more than 300 times faster than corresponding micrometer-scale material...



link to www.bizjournals.com
November 25, 2005

A Texas company that has developed a powerful alternative to conventional lead-based munitions says it will commercialize and market its explosive compound through a spin-off company it plans to establish in New Mexico.


During a recent visit here, executives from Nanoenergetics Inc. said New Mexico's research and testing assets, economic incentives, growing private investment scene and accessible political leaders make it an ideal place to establish their new startup.

Nanoenergetics is being spun off from Austin-based Nanotechnologies Inc....


http://www.nanoscale.com/about.asp
Unique nanoparticles, reactor technology and enabling applications
NANOTECHNOLOGIES, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered nanoparticles, with average particle sizes between 10 to 50 nanometers. Our expertise is in metal and metal oxide powders that are pure, discrete, spherical, and highly crystalline nanoparticles. NANOTECHNOLOGIES, Inc.'s materials allow customers to build new classes of products that we have labeled ANEASM, or "Advanced Nanoparticle Enabled ApplicationsSM".

NANOTECHNOLOGIES Inc. management team
http://www.nanoscale.com/about_team.asp
Dr. Dennis Wilson - Chief Technology Officer, Chairman of the Board and Founder

Dennis is co-founder of NANOTECHNOLOGIES, Inc. and co-inventor of the proprietary process. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1977, and has more than 30 years of experience in industry, government, and university research. Dennis' expertise is in hypervelocity physics, plasma dynamics, aerothermodynamics, and materials synthesis...

...Dennis has eight years of technology management as founder and president of Applied Sciences, Inc. He has also served as director of special projects at the Institute for Advanced Technology. In addition, Dennis has been awarded a NASA Faculty Research Fellowship on three occasions, a DoE Research Fellowship twice, and an AFOSR Research Fellowship...


Darrin Willauer - Vice President, Engineering
Darrin joined NANOTECHNOLOGIES, Inc. in 2000 and is responsible for engineering development activities for all projects and research programs.
...project engineer with Dowell Schlumberger,

Dr. Kurt Schroder - Chief Scientist
Dr. Schroder joined NANOTECHNOLOGIES Inc. in 2000 and is a co-inventor of the core processes. He holds an S.B. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin. He has over 15 years experience in plasma physics and pulsed power and has worked for industry, government, and academia. Kurt has numerous publications, 2 patents, and several patents pending in the following technology areas: vibration reduction and impact physics in hammers and sports rackets; blackbody radiation diagnostics and magnetic fluctuation measurements in tokamak plasmas; and onboard optical telemetry systems and launch package design and diagnostics on railguns.



link to www.cnanotech.com

Houston, Texas, January 24, 2002 -
Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (CNI) said today that it has stepped up efforts to develop applications utilizing single-wall carbon nanotubes for defense and national security purposes. CNI has engaged the noted consulting firm of Technology Strategies & Alliances (TSA), headquartered in Burke, Virginia, near Washington, D. C., to assist in the strategic market development of national defense directed products. The company believes that an accelerated research effort will bring new and significantly improved products to market that can enhance national defense.

"The U.S. Department of Defense, the Navy, Air Force, Army, and NASA have been involved for some time in extensive research using single-wall carbon nanotubes or 'Buckytubes'," said Bob G. Gower, President of CNI. "We believe that Buckytubes can significantly enhance the ability of defense products to shield, absorb, or otherwise modify electro-magnetic signals, key needs in many mission-critical areas...

[rollingrock]

1. ...more

9/11: Controlled Demolition not just thermite but "nanothermite"
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/04/338241.shtml

author: Nico Haupt
...getting the bigger picture of the unconventional part for the 9/11 controlled demolition...
During early 2006, i informed the 911Scholars about unconventional weaponry,
who could have additionally forced the collapse.
There wasn't much response, but they added at least the TechReview link, i
added in my letter.

Since the recent overhype on Professor Jones new "findings", i'm less confused,
but more surprised, why Professor Jones didn't go a step further with his latest
paper.
In case, it gets lost again, here are all my sources. I'm not following up this right now,
so maybe someone else can pick it up and go from there.
(*thx also to "Mr. Thomas Potter" for original inspiration)

The current "RENSE" collection doesn't go deep enough and as usual does not mention any suspects.

The suspects for "nanoenergetics" aka superthermite as part of the unconventional part of the controlled demolition should be instead located at the "Center for NanoEnergetics Research" (created in Spring 2001, only a few months before 9/11), Department of Defense Contractor "NANOTECHNOLOGIES, Inc." (also founded during 2001), Sandia and Lawrence Livermore.
------------------------


Low-Cost Production of Nanostructured Super-Thermites

Navy SBIR 2008.1 - Topic N08-020
NAVAIR - Mrs. Janet McGovern - [e-mail]
Opens: December 10, 2007 - Closes: January 9, 2008
N08-020 TITLE: Low-Cost Production of Nanostructured Super-Thermites

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Chemical/Bio Defense, Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO(W)-ACAT 1C

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a safe, low-cost, high performance, high production rate method of preparing nanostructured super-thermite materials.

DESCRIPTION: "Super-thermite" is a metal fuel/metal oxide energetic mixture where at least one of the materials has a sub 100 nanometer dimension. Super-thermites with high energy content greater than TNT (4.5 kJ/g) are of interest. Thermite type compositions can have higher densities and energy content by volume than conventional organic explosives. This affords smaller weapon systems or enables the use of higher lethality weapons. A substantial increase in weapons performance is expected. The cost and production rate of super-thermite composites has limited the use of these materials in DoD applications. Currently, the most common approach for the preparation of super-thermites is by ultra sonication of nano metal and nano metal oxide powder. Eliminating the need for nano sized starting materials is preferable for cost minimization.

PHASE I: Determine the technical feasibility of preparing a high performance super-thermite composites in a low-cost but commercially scalable process. The material prepared by the new process should be comparable to that from the ultra sonication method. Capability to determine the performance of the super-thermite material by measuring the reaction rate, time to peak pressure, maximum peak pressure, and energy content is preferred.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype production system capable of producing nano-structured thermite with performance comparable to material from the sonication method. Demonstrate the preparation of several moderate scale batches and measure the performance characteristics as compared to material from the sonication process. Run to run reproducibility is required. Determine the aging and safety characteristics of the prototype prepared super-thermite material.

PHASE III: Develop a production ready system to support the development and integration of the super-thermite material into smaller weapons for the JSF internal weapons carriage, as primers for NAVAIR’s medium caliber Gatling gun ammunition, for use in CAD/PAD devices such as ejection seats and flare dispensers, and as flare materials.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Low-cost super thermite has potential applications as lead-free primers for ammunition, igniters, flares, and fireworks, especially indoor displays.

www.navysbir.com/n08_1/N081-020.htm

REFERENCES:
1. S. H. Fischer and M. C. Grubelich, "Theoretical Energy Release of Thermites, Intermetallics, and Combustible Metals," 24th International Pyrotechnics Seminar, Monterey, CA, 1998.

2. Son, S. F., Foley, T., Sanders, V. E., Novak, A., Tasker, D., and Asay, B. W., "Overview of Nanoenergetic Research at Los Alamos," Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., Vol. 896, 2006, pp. 87-98.

3. Puszynski, J. A., Bulian, C. J. andSwiatkiewicz, J. J., "The Effect of Nanopowder Attributes on Reaction Mechanism and Ignition Sensitivity of Nanothermites," Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., Vol. 896, 2006, pp. 147-158.

4. Schoenitz M., Ward T., and Dreizin E.L. "Preparation of Energetic Metastable Nano-Composite Materials by Arrested Reactive Milling," Materials Research Society Proceedings, V. 800, pp: AA2.6.1-AA2.6.6, 2004

KEYWORDS: energetics; nanostructured; super-thermite; pyrotechnics; ultra sonication; nano metal

[LARED]

2. In case you are not aware of this

Nico Haupt aka Ewing2001 (or something like that) is a certifiable loon.

[rollingrock]

3. The authors of the official report are certifiable loons.

in case you aren't aware.

[LARED]

4. Just trying to be helpful

The links you provided seemed pretty reliable, until you posted Nico's idiocy. I just thought you might not be aware of his history. Seriously, he is a loon.

[rollingrock]

5. When you can't debate the merits of the topic at hand

resort to ad hominem attack and start a flamefest. Rinse, repeat, ad nauseum.

:eyes:

[LARED]

6. Let's try this again

I stated the links you provided seems pretty legit. With the exception of Nico's. Posting his nonsense detracts from your OP. If you think that is flamebait, good luck.

[rollingrock]

7. Nico Haupt

I don't know what your beef with this guy is (you seem to have a personal beef with every critic of the OCT), but Nico Haupt is the guy who originally compiled the listing in my OP, the one you agree is a legitimate source of information, which is why I included his name. if you clicked on the link after his name you would see that.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/04/338241.shtml

[LARED]

8. I didn't realize that

Well that only means Nico can find legitimate websites about nanotechnology. That ability in no way means Nico remains anything but a loon. But if you have faith in him, go for it.

BTW, my beef is with specific critics of the so called OCT. There are a number of sensible questions about 9/11. No-planes, controlled demo, thermite, pods, holograms, planted plane parts, DEW, vaporized steel, etc are not considered sensible in my view.

[BeFree]

9. Who f'n cares what you think?

Who the hell are you to spew such stuff? Like I tell everyone about 9/11: Those that tell you they know what happened are liars.

Are you telling us you know what really happened?

[rollingrock]

10. Steven Jones and Nico Haupt

...have proven you dead wrong, haven't they? That's because they like to back their claims with proper research and documentation. You ought to try it some time.



Remember what you said in a previous thread, LARED?

What does Active Thermitic Material mean? A web search reveals absolutely no hits outside of the Jones etal paper claiming its discovery.

Can anyone explain this apparently made up class of material?

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x240987

Do you feel stupid now? lol.

[LARED]

11. Unless I missed it no one has defined Active Thermitic Materials

Not don't you feel silly?

[rhymeandreason]

12. Thank you for posting this.

You might be interested to know that the wikipedia entry was edited and significantly shorn of detail and links yesterday at about mid-day.

[AZCat]

13. Which wikipedia entry? n/t

[rhymeandreason]

14. Metastable intermolecular composites (MICs)

I accessed this entry early in the morning yesterday but it was edited, actualy that night:

---------------------------------------------------------
(cur) (prev) 21:14, 11 April 2009 Arthur Rubin (talk | contribs) (4,388 bytes) (Reverted to revision 263228347 by Shaddack; revert to pre-vandalized version. It's POSSIBLE that some of the new information is real a reliable..... (TW)) (undo)
---------------------------------------------------

I can't remember much enough of the pre-edit version to decide whether or not this was vandalism or information that someone didn't want in the entry.

[rhymeandreason]

15. Actually the edited version can be found here

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metastable_intermolecular_composite&oldid=282087095

It really just seems more detailed, with more links.

[AZCat]

16. It looks like the catalyst...

was the inclusion of the following paragraph (and the related references) under "History":

In April 2009, Danish chemist Niels H. Harrit, of the University of Copenhagen, and 8 other authors, published a paper in The Open Chemical Physics Journal, titled, 'Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe'.<2> The paper suggested that super-thermite or nano-thermite chips were discovered in the dust and was covered in the Danish press.<3>

[rollingrock]

20. Bingo

There's no good reason for deleting that information.

[Bolo Boffin]

23. There's no good reason for including that information.

It has nothing to do with a general article on thermite.

[rollingrock]

17. Really?

It doesn't look like much has changed since yesterday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-thermites


You may have gotten the page mixed up with the entry for Thermite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite

[AZCat]

18. whoops - my mistake.

You got the right wikipedia entry. rhymeandreason was off a few days - the edits he refers to were made on April 6th.

[rollingrock]

19. The older version had footnotes too

How odd that they were deleted.


References

1. ^ Effect of Al particle size on the thermal degradation of Al/teflon mixtures
2. ^ 2002 Assessment of the Office of Naval Research's Air and Surface Weapons Technology Program, Naval Studies Board (NSB)
3. ^ Reaction Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Nanothermite Propellants
4. ^ (WO/2005/016850) Nano-laminate-based Ignitors
5. ^ Metastable Intermolecular Composites (MIC) for Small Caliber Cartridges and Cartridge Actuated Devices (PDF)
6. ^ Pyrotechnic Literature Series - Kosanke - Part 7
7. ^ Los Alamos National Lab -- Chemistry Division Capabilities
8. ^ Aluminum Burn Rate Modifiers Based on Reactive Nanocomposite Powders (PDF)
9. ^ (WO/2005/016850) Nano-laminate-based Ignitors

[rhymeandreason]

21. The wikipedia editors have been

hard at work removing information from this entry.

For example, this link is missing from the current entry:

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?IA=WO2005016850&DISPLAY=DESC

excerpt:
<0016> Energetic booster materials include propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, and other materials capable of generating high temperature exothermic reactions. Energetic booster materials can also contain binder materials, such as Viton A-100TM. Energetic nanocomposites that are effective as igniters, i. e. , energetic nanocomposite igniters, can be fabricated by coating energetic booster materials onto energetic multilayer structures. Energetic booster materials include sol-gel nanostructured energetic materials, organic energetic compounds, inorganic energetic compounds, and energetic nano- particulates. Sol-gel nanostructured energetic materials are intimate mixtures of an oxidizer (s) and fuel (s) where at least one, of the critical dimensions (length, height, width) of at least one of the constituents is less than 100 nm and where at least one of the components of the energetic materials was derived via sol-gel methods known to those skilled in the art. Sol-gel methods comprise dissolving a sol-gel molecular precursor in solution and then through the manipulation of any one or more of several variables (e. g. , pH, ionic strength, temperature) inducing the hydrolysis and condensation of the molecular precursors into a sol, i. e. ,-a liquid solution with very small solid particles suspended in it, and causing the sol to condense and solidify to form a rigid 3-dimensional gel monolith. An example would be the energetic materials Fe203/Al nanocomposite. Organic energetic compounds are molecular, ionic, or polymeric compounds those whose combination of oxidizer (s) and fuel (s) are limited to consist of the elements of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, e. g. , the energetic material nitrocellulose. Inorganic energetic compounds are molecular, ionic, or polymeric compounds that are made up primarily of elements other than those defined as organic. Lead azide (Pb (N3) 1) is an example of an inorganic energetic material. Energetic nano-particulates are physical mixtures of oxidizer (s) and fuel (s) where at least one is a powder and that powder comprises particles whose nominal average diameter is between 1 and 100 nm, e. g. , Metastable Intermolecular Composites (MIC) materials that are made up of nanometersized powders of MoO3 (oxidizer) and Al (fuel). (see Son et. al. Proc. 281'International Pyro Sem. Adelaide Australia, November 2001 and Son et. al. Proc. 291'International Pyro Sem. Westminster, CO U. S. A. , July 2002 p.

203). Dip-coating, spin-coating, spray-coating, chemical vapor deposition coating, physical vapor deposition coating, lamination and gluing are all effective methods of coating the energetic booster material onto the energetic multilayer structure.

[rollingrock]

22. The last paragraph

203). Dip-coating, spin-coating, spray-coating, chemical vapor deposition coating, physical vapor deposition coating, lamination and gluing are all effective methods of coating the energetic booster material onto the energetic multilayer structure.

This is what Kevin Ryan talks about in one of his articles.

The amazing correlation between floors of impact and floors of apparent failure suggests that spray-on nano-thermite materials may have been applied to the steel components of the WTC buildings, underneath the upgraded fireproofing (Ryan 2008). This could have been done in such a way that very few people knew what was happening. The Port Authority’s engineering consultant Buro Happold, helping with evaluation of the fireproofing upgrades, suggested the use of “alternative materials” (NIST 2005). Such alternative materials could have been spray-on nano-thermites substituted for intumescent paint or Interchar-like fireproofing primers (NASA 2006). It seems quite possible that this kind of substitution could have been made with few people noticing.

[BeFree]

24. Good work, rock

Does everyone realize that IF the steel was coated with this sprayed on nano-thermite it could make the steel columns melt?

It looked as if they melted, especially the spire. And the heat produced might be enough to burn those cars that were quite a bit of distance from the towers.

Wow, now that tends to explain a lot of things that happened that day that were so unusual. Wow.

[rollingrock]

25. This nanotech weapons stuff is pretty scary

and yes, its real and documented.


Here's Kevin Ryan's article in full:

The Top Ten Connections Between
NIST and Nano-Thermites

http://911review.com/articles/ryan/nist_thermite_connection.html