Morphology of Extinguished Monolithic JA2 Grains Fired in a 30-MM Solid Propellant Electrothermal-Chemical (SPETC) Gun.
Abstract
Monolithic grains of JA2 were fired in a 30-mm solid propellant electrothermal-chemical (SPETC) gun and were recovered after self-extinguishing because of depressurization. A morphological investigation was performed on these grains to gain insight into the interaction between the plasma and the propellant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the morphology of the combustion surface and bulk of the propellant. Results show that the propellant burning surface was pitted and showed evidence of both brittle fracture and plastic flow. These features were the results of rapid pressurization within the single perforated grain caused by the plasma injection and the subsequent burning. Regions within the propellant showed evidence of augmented mass generation when compared with conventional propellant combustion. Mechanisms causing this accelerated burning are conjectured; they included erosive burning, fracture-generated tunneling, and in-depth buming. Micrographs are presented to support these findings and proposals are made to exploit these enhanced burning processes. SPETC, ETC, JA2, Gun propellants, Morphology, Extinguished.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA285792
Entities
People
- Christopher J. Gillich
- Robert J. Lieb
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory