DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS AS A RESEARCH TOOL IN CHARACTERIZING NEW PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Abstract
Differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques are applied to the characterization of advanced propellant systems. From the thermogram of a material (propellant or a propellant ingredient), the temperature at which a reaction will rapidly occur can be studied. It is shown how a DTA thermogram can be used to obtain activation energy, E (the energy barrier opposing the reaction), the frequency factor, A (the measure of the probability that a molecule having E will participate in a reaction), and, from the degree of asymmetry of the thermogram, the apparent reaction order. This information (from small samples), along with other thermodynamic properties and theoretical equations relating size and shape to temperature rise, is used in predicting behavior during storage of large propellant motors. The extrapolation is checked by scaled sizes of propellants and cook-off data using derivative differential thermal analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0264748
Entities
People
- E. D. Besser
- P. G. Rivette
Organizations
- Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake