Propellant Aging Research
Abstract
Chemical aging of solid rocket propellants and ingredients was studied. The thermal decomposition rate coefficients of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, butanetriol trinitrate, and ammonium perchlorate were measured from about 310 to 375 K using a NOx chemiluminescence analyzer. The decomposition of butanetriol trinitrate was shown to undergo a mechanism change at 333 K. Six cured mixtures of hydroxy terminated polybutadiene binder, ammonium perchlorate, aluminum, and stabilizer were prepared, exposed to four reactive gases for 54 hours at 344 K, and analyzed for weight change, sol/gel content, and molecular weight of sol. These techniques were not sensitive enough to reliably analyze early changes due to chemical aging. Polymer chemiluminescence resulting from chemical degradation of this series of propellant mixtures by reactive gases was also studied from 300 to 350 K. This work showed that the stabilizer methylnitroanilline significantly reduces chemical reactions occurring upon exposure to air but not upon exposure to air but not upon exposure to NO2/air. The results of this program demonstrate the capabilities of the real-time NOx offgas analysis technique and the polymer chemiluminescence technique. Keywords: Propellant aging; Energetic materials; Kinetics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA179814
Entities
People
- Douglas B. Olson
- Robert J. Gill