Aluminum nanopowder (nAl) obtained by electrical explosion of wires and passivated/coated with hydrocarbons and fluorohydrocarbons is comprehensively characterized. Coatings of different natures (octadecanoic and hexadecanoic acid, (1,1,11) trihydroperfluoro-undecan-1-ol, Fluorel (TM) + ester from esterification of (1,1,11) trihydroperfluoro-undecan-1-ol with furan-2,5-dione) were applied on the particle surface. The powders were studied by TEM, SEM, DSC-TGA, and BET specific surface area. The active aluminum content was determined by volumetric analyses. Coated nAl particles were compared to noncoated powder by the corresponding reactivity parameters obtained from DSC-TGA. It was found that while fatty acids have a weak effect on the non-isothermal oxidation behavior, fluoroelastomers shift the oxidation onset of nAl to higher temperatures by similar to 20 degrees C for the first oxidation stage and by similar to 100 degrees C for the second oxidation stage. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.