Metal-based reactive nanomaterials

Catalytic effects of nano additives on decomposition and combustion of RDX-, HMX-, and AP-based energetic compositions

http://arrow.utias.utoronto.ca/~ogulder/Z_PECS_SOOT_2012.pdf

Soot formation in high pressure laminar diffusion flames

http://www.mne.psu.edu/sfnm/Publications1_files/Purdue/1-s2.0-S0010218013003039-main.pdf

Aluminum agglomeration reduction in a composite propellant using tailored Al/PTFE particles

Several aluminum nanopowders were examined and compared with the final goal to evaluate their application in solid rocket propulsion. A detailed investigation of pre-burning properties by the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was carried out. Ballistic properties and the combustion mechanism of several aluminized propellant formulations were investigated. In particular, aggregation and agglomeration of metal particles at and near the burning surface were analyzed by high-speed high-resolution color digital video recordings. All tested nano-powders are of Russian production; their physical characterization was carried out at the Istituto Donegani (Novara, Italy); ballistic studies were performed at the Solid Propulsion Laboratory (Milano, Italy) using laboratory and, for comparison, industrial composite propellants based on ammonium perchlorate as an oxidizer. Results obtained under a fair variety of operating conditions typical of rocket propulsion indicate, for increasing nano-Al mass fraction or decreasing nano-Al size, larger steady burning rates with essentially the same pressure sensitivity. While aggregation and agglomeration phenomena still occur, their significance may be reduced by using nano-Al instead of micro-Al.

Burning of Nano-Aluminized Composite Rocket Propellants

-... Results of a series of tests on AP/aluminum/PBAN propellants, with particular attention to bimodal AP particle size distribution, show the effect of particle size of fine AP and the concentration of fine AP on aluminum agglomeration and ignition. Results are interpreted in terms of the distribution of aluminum in propellant microstructure and the proximity of AP-binder flamelets to precipitate ignition of the accumulating aluminum.

Aluminum Agglomeration in Solid-Propellant Combustion

Combustion of ammonium perchlorate-polymer sandwiches

This paper reports a series of experimental studies performed on sandwich propellants, wherein a matrix lamina of particulate oxidizer and polymeric binder is sandwiched between two ammonium perchlorate (AP) laminae. The catalyst (ferric oxide ) is incorporated in the matrix lamina. The variables are pressure (0.345‐ 6.9 MPa), matrix lamina thickness, catalyst concentration, matrix mixture ratio, types of oxidizer and binder, and the dispersion ability of the catalyst. The combined results indicate that, under the conditions tested, near-surface reactions associated with the particulate AP/binder contact lines on the burning surface assume signie cance in the presence of the catalyst. These reactions are further augmented by the presence of the leading-edge portion of the diffusion e ame above the interface of the matrix and AP laminae.

Mechanism of Burning Rate Enhancement of Composite Solid Propellants by Ferric Oxide

Studies of edge burning of oxidizer-fuel laminae were extended by inclusion of different sizes of fine ammonium perchlorate (AP) into the binder lamina to study the combustion zone microstructure in composite-propellant combustion. Different modes of burning in heterogeneous systems resulting from pressure effects, AP particle-size effects, lamina thickness, and AP/binder mix ratios were determined. Results are interpreted in terms of the effects on flame structure and multidimensional processes in the combustion zone. 13 refs.

E. W. Price

Papers

Aluminum Agglomeration in Solid-Propellant Combustion

Combustion of ammonium perchlorate-polymer sandwiches

Mechanism of Burning Rate Enhancement of Composite Solid Propellants by Ferric Oxide

Effect of multidimensional flamelets in composite propellant combustion

Combustion of ammonium perchlorate-polymer sandwiches