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

Abstract

The ignition delay times tign of propellants provide insight for the fundamental understanding of the ignition process. This study demonstrated a refined method to measure the tign of ammonium-perchlorate-based propellants at pressures between 3.5 and 15.5 MPa. Both aluminized and nonaluminized ammonium perchlorate/ hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene composite propellants were studied with and without metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts. A CO2 laser was used to obtain quantifiable and reliable ignition times over a 30–100 W power range. The tign results were compared to literature values for similar power fluxes at comparable pressures and to a simple ignition model based on heat conduction. Catalytic additives were seen to modify the tign, depending primarily on whether they impact the lower- or higher-temperature decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. Examining the effects of in situ titania nanoparticles on the ignition delay times led to the conclusion that the nano-additives only altered the ignition behavior of the aluminized samples, but had no effect on the nonaluminized ones. Conversely, when nano-sized Fe2O3 was used, the tign was halved at lower pressures. As a result, additives that assist in the low-temperature decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, such as Fe2O3, are believed to have the greatest impact on ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene ignition delay times.

Publication Date

1-1-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Propulsion and Power

Volume

34

Issue

5

Number of Pages

1285-1296

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.2514/1.B36802

Socpus ID

85051849207 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85051849207

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