DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED BORON SLURRY FUEL FORMULATIONS.
Abstract
Vacuum-drying of ball-milled boron was found to eliminate hydrogen gas formation and accompanying bulk volume reductions in stored samples of JP-4 based boron slurries. Density reductions in stored isopropanol-based slurries was found to result from air dissolved in the carrier. No deterioration of rheological or combustion properties resulting from vacuum-drying of the boron was observed. Two promising slurry formulations optimized for low-temperature rheological properties were developed. Both of these formulations contained methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) mixed with gelled JP-4 in the carrier phase. The rheological goals set for this program of 400 poise viscosity at -65 F and 1/100 sec shear rate and 12 lb/sq ft yield stress at -65 F were met by both of the two promising formulations. Combustion performance for the mixed-carrier slurries (gelled JP-4 plus MIBK) was equal to or better than that of similar formulations containing no ketone. Both of the promising formulations exhibited Newtonian rheological properties over the shear rate range covered 1/100 sec to about 1/20,000 sec at temperatures of -30F or above. The viscosity of each was about five poise at 70 F, over a shear rate range from 1/50 sec to 1/50,000 sec. An increase in solids loading to 76 per cent boron appeared to increase viscosity at 70 F and -30F by roughly a factor of two, and each of the 76 per cent formulations exhibited essentially Newtonian rheological properties at both temperatures. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0381279
Entities
People
- Robert L. Durfee
Organizations
- ARCO