Performance Augmentation of Boron–HTPB-Based Solid Fuels by Energetic Additives for Hybrid Gas Generator in Ducted Rocket Applications

Abstract

Experimental investigations were conducted using an opposed flow burner system (OFBS) to examine the combustion characteristics of boron–HTPB-based solid fuels with nano-energetic metal additives such as magnesium and titanium. The study has been mainly on regression rate characteristics and effects of additives on combustion behavior of B–HTPB-based solid fuels for hybrid gas generator in solid fuel ducted rocket (SFDR) applications. In the OFBS, gaseous oxygen (GOX) has been impinged on the solid fuel surface at mass flux range (Gox) of 20–57 kg/m2 s for various concentrations of solid fuel samples. Magnesium addition to the boron–HTPB mixture has been found to help in increasing the regression rate by 12.5% compared to only boron-loaded case at 57 Gox. However, similar result has not been noticed for titanium case. A high-speed camera is used to visualize the burning surface and the ejected burning agglomerates of the solid fuels. Standard material characterization techniques such as FE-SEM, XRD, EDS, and TGA are used for characterizing feed particles as well as condensed combustion products (CCP) of various samples studied in this investigation.