Title

Performance of Ammonium-Perchlorate-Based Composite Propellant Containing Nanoscale Aluminum

Authors

Authors

M. Stephens; T. Sammet; E. Petersen; R. Carro; S. Wolf;C. Smith

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Propul. Power

Keywords

COMBUSTION INSTABILITY; Engineering, Aerospace

Abstract

Several composite propellant mixtures of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, ammonium perchlorate, and aluminum were prepared with and without the addition (if small percentages of nanoscale aluminum and tested in a strand burner at pressures up to 34.5 MPa. The effect of monomodal versus bimodal ammonium perchlorate particle size, coarse aluminum particle size, nano aluminum particle size, and coarse-to-fine ratios on burning rate and manufacturability were explored. A significant conclusion of the present study is that the addition of nanoscale aluminum does not always ensure an increase in the propellant's burning rate when produced using conventional methods. It was observed that over the range of mixtures and pressures explored, a bimodal oxidizer is required for the nanoscale aluminum to affect the burning rate, and that a monomodal oxidizer tended to nullify any influence of the nanoscale aluminum. In some cases, the addition of nanosized aluminum decreased the burning rate. The level of burning-rate increase or decrease depended on the bimodal or monomodal ammonium perchlorate particle sizes, the coarse aluminum particle size, and the pressure range.

Journal Title

Journal of Propulsion and Power

Volume

26

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Language

English

First Page

461

Last Page

466

WOS Identifier

WOS:000278115600010

ISSN

0748-4658

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