An Experimental Investigation in the Behavior of Metallized Solid Propellants

Abstract

The combustion behavior of metallized solid propellants at pressures between 100 and 750 psi was investigated using high speed motion pictures together with scanning electron microscope and light diffraction examinations of collected residue. A reduced smoke ZrC propellant and two propellants with low aluminum loadings were utilized. ZrC was observed to agglomerate and ignite on the propellant surface before being ejected. The aluminum did not agglomerate but did ignite on the propellant surface. ZrC was found to burn in part with a detached flame and the flame moved closer to the particle surface as pressure increased. Aluminum particles were observed to burn with similar behavior, but with flames more detached from the particle surface. Increased aluminum loading resulted in smaller particles above the propellant surface, but the flames were further from particle surfaces.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA206510

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Smith

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additives (Chemicals)
  • Burning Rate
  • Cameras
  • Combustion
  • Composite Propellants
  • Diffraction
  • Ignition
  • Ignition Systems
  • Metals
  • Microscopy
  • Particle Size
  • Particles
  • Photographs
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Engines
  • Solid Propellants
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene