Depressurization Extinguishment of Composite Solid Propellants: Flame Structure, Surface Characteristics, and Restart Capability

Abstract

During a rapid depressurization, the intensities of several spectral lines and the pressure are measured, simultaneous to the taking of high speed movie photographs of the flame. The quenched surfaces of all samples are analysed with a scanning electron microscope. The 24% CTBP + 76% 25 microns AP propellant extinguishes permanently for initial depressurization rates exceeding ca. 7,500 atm/s, when the initial pressure is 45 atm. At the highest depressurization rates, the gaseous flame quenches immediately due to the adiabatic expansion. Lower rates of fall in pressure allow a second flame to develope after 5 - 7 ms, the relaxation time of the solid phase. This new flame is irregular and partially consumes the AP particles available on the propellant surface, depending on the imposed dP/dt. The new flame goes out only at the end of the pressure transient.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0742499

Entities

People

  • H. Selzer
  • J. A. Steinz

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Ammonium Perchlorate
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Combustion Chambers
  • Composite Propellants
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Exponential Functions
  • Extinction
  • Measurement
  • Particle Size
  • Propellants
  • Scanning Electron Microscopes
  • Solid Phases
  • Solid Propellants
  • Spectral Lines

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics