Study on combustion characteristics of ammonium perchlorate enhanced hydroxylamine nitrate-based electronically controlled solid propellant

Abstract

Electrically controlled solid propellants (ECSPs) have attracted significant attention as a novel class of solid propellants owing to their unique electrochemical properties. In this study, a series of ECSP formulations composed of hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN), ammonium perchlorate (AP), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared and experimentally investigated to understand the effect of applied voltage on their combustion characteristics, and their combustion behavior was systematically characterized. The results demonstrated that the addition of AP decreased the initial conductivity of the ECSP; however, the average combustion rate during steady-state burning increased significantly, along with a corresponding increase in the combustion temperature. This effect became more pronounced with increasing AP concentration. The dissolved AP in the system acts as an efficient charge carrier, whereas the undissolved AP enhances the combustion performance by producing oxygen through thermal decomposition. Furthermore, even under atmospheric pressure conditions, the combustion of the ECSP can be effectively controlled by adjusting the applied voltage, with combustion ceasing upon removal of the voltage. The mechanism by which AP enhances combustion was analyzed, providing new insights for the optimization of ECSP formulations.