Multi-Parameter Study of Nanoscale TiO2 and CeO2 Additives in Composite AP/HTPB Solid Propellants

    Authors

    M. A. Stephens; E. L. Petersen; R. Carro; D. L. Reid;S. Seal

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Propellants Explos. Pyrotech.

    Keywords

    AP/HTPB Propellant; Composite Solid Propellant; Nano Additive; TiO2; CeO2; PLATEAU BURNING BEHAVIOR; COMBUSTION; Chemistry, Applied; Engineering, Chemical

    Abstract

    A statistical Taguchi L8 matrix was used to conduct a multi-parameter study of the use of nanoscale additives in composite solid propellants. The additives studied were TiO2 (titania) and CeO2 (ceria). The other parameters involved in the experiment were the oxidizer loading and distribution, additive percentage and size, additive size (nano-scale or mu m-scale), and the mixing method. Four baseline propellants without additives were also produced for comparison. The propellants were tested from 3.45 to 13.78 MPa in a strand bomb, and burning rate curves were determined for all formulas. By analyzing the Taguchi matrix, the sensitivity of each parameter according to the pressure sensitivity and burning rate of the propellant was calculated. The dominant factors depend on whether the additive is needed for modifying the pressure index or the absolute value of the burning rate. In general, the effectiveness of the additives was most influenced by oxidizer percentage, oxidizer size distribution, and additive type. The amount of additive, mixing method, and additive size all had relatively minor impacts on the effectiveness of the additives.

    Journal Title

    Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics

    Volume

    35

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    143

    Last Page

    152

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000277343400008

    ISSN

    0721-3115

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