RADIATION-INDUCED SOLID PROPELLANT DECOMPOSITION

Abstract

An investigation was made of the effect of ionizing radiation on the burning rates and tensile strengths of various composite ammonium perchlorate propellants. The results of these studies demonstrated that, in many cases, drastic changes in burning rate and tensile strength occurred upon radiolysis. In order to elucidate the mechanism of these effects, a multi-pronged study of the effects of radiation on propellants and propellant components was initiated. This involved: (1) a study of the radiation induced decomposition of ammonium perchlorate with an elucidation of the various chemical species produced upon radiolysis and their yields (G values); (2) a study of radiation effects on burning rate by a technique in which the effect of radiation on each of the two components of a propellant, i. e., organic binder and inorganic oxidizer, is studied separately.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 15, 1964
Accession Number
AD0604475

Entities

People

  • Ernest Henley
  • George Odian
  • R. F. Mcalevy Iii
  • Terese Acker
  • Thomas Pletzke

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Ammonium Perchlorate
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Chlorine
  • Chlorine Compounds
  • Combustion
  • Composite Materials
  • Composite Propellants
  • Gaseous Fuels
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Effects
  • Solid Propellants

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.