Experimental Investigation on Ignition Characteristic of NEPE Propellant

Abstract

The ignition characteristic of solid propellant is the main content in internal ballistic research. In this study, the factors which may have an impact on ignition delay time of Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether Propellant (NEPE) are analyzed by a CO2 laser radiation experiment. Using high-speed camera, the ignition process of NEPE propellant is recorded under different environmental conditions. Results show that the ignition delay time decreases with the increase of laser heat flux, ambient pressure and initial temperature of NEPE propellant. At the same time, with the increase of laser heat flux, the influences of ambient pressure and initial temperature on the ignition delay time decrease. Besides, the effect of oxygen concentration on the ignition delay time is confirmed that the oxygen content has little effect on the ignition delay time when the oxygen content of the ambient gas is less than that of the propellant pyrolysis product.