Surface Phenomena of Solid Propellants Ignited by Plasma
Abstract
The morphological and chemical characterization of M30 propellants recovered after conventional and plasma ignition with polyethylene (PE) terephthalate (Mylar) in an interrupted closed bomb (extinguished at pressures between 35 and 100 Mpa) has been performed. It has been reported that burning rate augmentation appears to occur during the plasma event, but there was no evidence for post-plasma augmentation. For the extinguished grains from PE plasma ignition, there appears to be removal of nitroguanidine (NQ) crystals in the perforations. Also, hot embedded particles and increased surface area were observed, instead of the melt layer normally obtained with conventionally ignited samples. Although extensive chemical characterization has been performed, there appears to be very little chemical difference between the burned surfaces and subsurfaces of the plasma and conventionally ignited samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that although a melt layer is present on the surface of M30, it is immeasurably thin. Moreover, the SEM analysis showed that NQ depletion in the perforations was most evident at the lowest blow-out pressure used (35 Mpa) and seemed to diminish at higher pressure, apparently becoming obscured by "normal" burning processes. Thus, plasma-propellant interactions and associated effects may occur only very early during ignition, and it may be that there are few decomposition products remaining near the surfaces of the samples.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391551
Entities
People
- Amy E. Kinkennon
- Avi Birk
- Miguel Del Guercio
- Pamela J. Kaste
- Robert J. Lieb
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory