Chemical Kinetics of Nitramine Propellant Combustion
Abstract
Many solid rocket propellants and other energetic materials consist of complex chemical compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The decomposition of these solid reactants leads to the formation of gaseous hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen which can react to support a flame above the surface of the solid. These flames can provide heat which is fed back to the propellant surface and thereby influence the burning rate of the solid. In the case of nitramine based solid rocket propellants, the gas phase decomposition products include significant amounts of Ethyloxide, Hydrogen cyanide, Nitrogen dioxide, Nitric oxide, Nitrous oxide and Oxygen. This study is intended to provide experimental data on the structure of hydrocarbon flames supported by oxides of nitrogen in order to establish the reaction mechanism for such flames. Laminar, premixed, flat flames of Methane/NO2/O2 and CH2O/NO2/O2 have been investigated and a reaction mechanism is suggested which accounts for all of the major observations in the data.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA204576
Entities
People
- Melvyn C. Branch
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder