This volume brings together international scientists in the field of solid rocket propulsion. Thirty-nine papers present in-depth coverage on a wide range of topics including: advanced materials and non-traditional formulations; the chemical aspects of organic and inorganic components in relation to decomposition mechanisms, kinetics, combustion and modelling; safety issues, hazards and explosive characteristics; and experimental and computational interior ballistics research, including chemical information and the physics of the complex flow field.

Solid propellant chemistry, combustion, and motor interior ballistics

Enhanced performance of propellants and explosives is the most sought-after attribute for ambitious research programs in the field of high energy materials. Convergence of defence and space sector priorities has always kept research and development efforts in the area of propellants to the forefront. With the diminishing boundaries between rocket and gun propellants, as well as explosives, the possibility of low-vulnerable munitions with high performance potentials and spin-off advantages of research on rocket propellants are also emerging on the forefront. At the same time, an increasing predominance of missiles in today’s military warfare, as well as the space sector, has brought the issue of pollution by chlorine-containing combustion products of modern ammonium-perchlorate-based propellants into focus. A drastic transformation of high energy material technology is in offing. Research and development efforts made in this direction have brought an array of new materials into prominence. This paper reviews the recent work done in the frontier areas of advanced novel high energy materials. This paper covers the global scenario in the development of oxidizers, binders, plasticizers, high energy density materials, and insensitive high energy materials.

Emerging trends in advanced high energy materials

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.

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

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 on the role of iron oxide and copper chromite in solid propellant combustion

The combustion of mixtures of ammonium perchlorate and various inorganic compounds of the following general types was studied: oxides of copper and chromium, oxides of other metals, other perchlorates, other ammonium salts, and darkening agents. The additives were generally added at the 2 and 8 wt% levels. Deflagration rates as a function of pressure (100 <p< 1500 psi) and initial sample temperature (ambient room temperature and 100°C), results from motion picture photography of burning samples are presented and discussed.

H. F. Cordes

Papers

Combustion of Ammonium Perchlorate and Various Inorganic Additives