Ignition Delay Times Of Composite Solid Propellants Using Novel Nano-Additive Catalysts

Abstract

Ignition delay time measurements on solid energetic materials lead to better fundamental understanding of the ignition process and provide benchmark data for improving models of the ignition process. Validation for such models is typically done by collecting ignition data over a wide range of propellant formulations. This study focused on the development of a setup to obtain ignition delay times of AP/HTPB-based composite solid propellants with and without aluminum and with and without various metal-oxide nanoparticle catalysts. A CO2 laser with a wavelength of 10.6 µm was utilized to achieve a quantifiable and reliable ignition event over a power range of 30 to 100 W. AP and HTPB propellants have been shown to have high absorption and low reflection at this 10.6-µm wavelength. Resulting from this study was the development of a method to measure the ignition delay time for ammonium perchlorate composite propellants (APCP) at elevated pressures between 3.5 and 15.5 MPa. A comparison of the laser power flux as it relates to the change in ignition delay time was found to match available literature values at similar conditions. Additional studies to examine the effects of in-situ titania nanoparticles on the ignition delay times demonstrated that the nano-additives only appeared to alter the ignition behavior of the aluminized APCP. When iron-oxide was added, the ignition delay time was reduced at lower pressures. Additives which aid in the low-temperature decomposition of AP are believed to impact the ignition delay times the most.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

51st AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2015-4106

Socpus ID

85013049136 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85013049136

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