E. Santacesaria

Bio: E. Santacesaria is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Decomposition & Ammonium perchlorate. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 13 citations.

Ammonium perchlorate decomposition in the presence of metallic oxides

Abstract: Ammonium perchlorate decomposition in the presence of several oxides (Cr2O3, Fe2O3, CoO and Co3O4) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. A general kinetic law was used in interpreting the experimental runs. It was observed that, in the catalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, several reactions occur and contribute to the definition of the overall kinetic law. The relative contribution of these reactions and the actual kinetic parameters are evaluated.

Exceptional activity of mesoporous β-MnO2 in the catalytic thermal sensitization of ammonium perchlorate

Abstract: Mesoporous β-MnO2 has been prepared, characterized and demonstrated to possess excellent catalytic activity in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. The observed unprecedentedly low decomposition temperatures, fast reaction rates and enhanced heat releases in the catalysed formulations make mesoporous β-MnO2 promising as a high-performing ballistic modifier in AP-based composite solid rocket propellants.

Differential Scanning Calorimetric Study of HTPB based Composite Propellants in Presence of Nano Ferric Oxide

Abstract: A comparative study of the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP)/hydroxy terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based composite propellants has been carried out in presence and absence of nano iron oxide at different heating rates in a dynamic nitrogen atmosphere using differential scanning calorimetry. The pronounced effect was a lowering of the high temperature decomposition by 49 °C. A higher heat release up to 40% was observed in presence of nano ferric oxide (3.5 nm). The kinetic parameters were evaluated using the Kissinger method. The increase of the rate constant in the catalyzed propellant confirmed the enhancement of the catalytic activity of ammonium perchlorate. The scanning electron micrographs of nano Fe2O3 incorporated in HTPB revealed a well-separated characteristic necklace-like structure of α-Fe2O3 particles at high magnification.

Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate in the Presence of Nanosized Ferric Oxide

Abstract: The catalytic effect of two different sizes of a-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles synthesised using an electrochemical method was investigated on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) using differential scanning calorimetry as a function of catalyst concentration. The nanosized ferric oxide particles exhibited more of a catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of AP than commercial Fe 2 O 3 particles. A lowering of the high-temperature decomposition of AP by 59 o C was observed after mixing with 2 Wt per cent of a-Fe 2 O 3 particles with the very fine size of 3.5 nm. The mixture produced a high heat release of 4.574 kJ/ g compared to 0.834 kJ/g of pure AP. The kinetic parameters were evaluated using Kissinger method. The decrease in the activation energy and increase in rate constant confirmed the catalytic activity of these nanoparticles.

Study on the Burning Characteristics of AP/Al/HTPB Composite Solid Propellant Containing Nano-Sized Ferric Oxide Powder

Abstract: This study mainly explores the burning characteristics of AP/Al/HTPB composite solid propellant containing nano-sized ferric oxide (Fe2O3) powder. First, the appropriate dispersed technique is applied to prepare the propellant samples containing the ferric oxide (micro-sized and/or nano-sized) powder, and then the scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to observe the dispersed effect of ferric oxide powder in the propellant samples. Afterward, the reaction characteristics of the propellant samples are measured using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and the difference between their properties is analyzed. Finally, the propellant samples are processed to be used for various experiments, and the window bomb (WB), burning rate meter (BRM), and quenched particle collection bomb (QPCB) are used to study the burning characteristics. The burning phenomena are also analyzed by means of the combustion observation technique. Furthermore, the pull-testing machine is conducted to evaluate the mechanical pr...

Ignition behavior of a multicomponent fuel spray

Abstract: Ignition characteristics of multicomponent fuel sprays are studied. Three subsets of equations, the gas-phase, the liquid-phase, and the droplet equations, are solved by a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian, explicit-implicit method. Major features of the ignition model are that a zero heat-flux criterion is used to define ignition, a global one-step reaction scheme with nonunity exponents of fuel and oxygen is employed for a multifuel system, and the transient thermal and composition fields inside the droplet are resolved via a diffusion-limit model. Monodisperse and polydisperse size distributions are considered. The results are presented for a bicomponent fuel spray. The ignition behavior exhibits a strong sensitivity to the initial fuel composition. The presence of a volatile component, even in small amounts, can greatly improve the ignitability of nonvolatile fuel sprays. The relative enhancement in ignitability depends strongly on the droplet size, volatility differential, hot wall temperature, and, to a lesser degree, on the equivalence ratio. The results are significant from a practical point of view as the concept may be used to improve the ignitability of liquid fuel sprays.