Pre- and Post-Burning Analysis of Nano-Alluminized Propellants. Comparison of Four Russian Nano-Al Powders
Abstract
Aluminum nano-powders of Russian production were examined and compared with the final goal to evaluate their application in solid rocket propellant formulations. A detailed investigation, concerning a compared characterization of differently sized aluminum powders, by BET (Specific Surface), EM (Electron Microscopy), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), expands the analysis already presented in the first interim report. A detailed investigation concerning a compared characterization of condensed combustion residues of several propellants, based on differently sized aluminum powders, expands the analysis presented in the second interim report. Experimental data concerning the ballistic characterization of several propellants, in terms of steady burning rates and other ballistic effects, expands the analysis already presented in the third interim report. Flame structures and agglomeration phenomena, at and near the burning surface, of several aluminized formulations were analyzed by high-speed, high-resolution, color, digital video recordings. All ballistic studies were performed at SPLab, Milan, Italy using industrial (for comparison) and laboratory composite solid rocket propellants based on ammonium perchlorate as oxidizer and HTPB as binder. The reference formulation was an AP/HTPB/Al composition with respectively 68/17/15 % mass fractions. Results obtained under a wide variety of operating conditions typical of rocket propulsion indicate, for increasing nano-Al mass fraction or decreasing nano-Al size, larger steady burning rates with essentially the same pressure sensitivity. A variety of other effects connected with nano-Al powders appears, depending on the details of the burning formulations. This first year report is focused on uncoated nano-powders of Russian production; the second year report (if continuation is approved) will deal with coated Russian nano-powders and US nanopowders. before any actual use. Witb
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA524328
Entities
People
- Luciano Galfetti
- Luigi De Luca
Organizations
- Polytechnic University of Milan