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A Promising Fuel for Variable Thrust Motor: HTPB Propellant with High Pressure Exponent
Author(s) -
Ma Song,
Xu Huixiang,
Shi Xiaobing,
Li Yang,
Li Yonghong,
Zeng Liyuan,
Fan Hongjie,
Ran Xiulun
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.202000009
Subject(s) - propellant , ammonium perchlorate , thrust , materials science , thermal decomposition , composite material , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , thermodynamics , chromatography , organic chemistry , physics
In this paper, we developed a HTPB propellant containing energetic compound hydrated‐tetra‐(‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole) copper perchlorate (ACP) as the fuel for variable thrust motor with the purpose of controlling gas flow. Formulation of the propellant was designed and then various performances of this propellant were investigated. Results show that HTPB propellant containing 2 % ACP has a pressure exponent of 0.57 (static) or 0.56 (dynamic), suggesting an excellent capacity to control the burning rate. Thermal decomposition of ACP and the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) in high temperature are demonstrated to be sensitive to pressure by PDSC analysis, moreover, decomposition of AP in high temperature (around 400 °C) could be accelerated by ACP, φ 50 mm motors charged with this propellant work stably in the pressure range from 1.18 MPa to 21.72 MPa and less aluminum (Al) deposits in chambers and nozzles. Mechanical performance of the propellant in −40 °C and 20 °C turns out to be excellent with σ m ≥0.96 MPa and ϵ b ≥20.92 %, and is better than that in 50 °C. Low impact sensitivity ( H 50 , 72 cm) and friction sensitivity ( P , 31 %) of HTPB propellant containing 2 % ACP are found in the security tests, the propellant is also insensitive to shock wave ( G 50 , 23.8 mm).