Chapter 7 - Performance of Composite Solid Propellant Containing Nanosized Metal Particles

Abstract

Several industrial and research-type composite solid propellants containing different nanosized metal particles (such as aluminum, zirconium, and titanium) with similar nominal composition were prepared and experimentally analyzed. The effects of different nanosized powders on the rheological properties of metal/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) slurries and ammonium perchlorate-based composite propellant slurries were investigated. The strand burning rate and the associated combustion flame structure of propellants were determined. The energetic properties and the hazardous properties of propellants prepared were analyzed and the properties mentioned earlier were compared to those of a conventional aluminized propellant. The results show that aluminum powder can be sufficiently dispersed in HTPB binder. The propellant formulations containing nanosized particles are sensitive to impact and friction except for the base propellant with common aluminum powder, which is less sensitive to friction as compared to the other compositions. Nanosized additives can affect the combustion behavior and increase the burning rate of propellants compared with the common reference propellant composition.