Effects of Nano-Scale Additives and Methanol on the Linear Burning Rates of Aqueous HAN Solutions
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2014 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved. The linear burning rates of aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) solutions containing nano-scale fumed silica, nano-scale titania, and methanol were observed in a strand burner at pressures between 3 and 22 MPa. Burning rates were determined using a pressure-based method that does not require direct observation of the burning surface. A solution of 82.4% HAN by weight in water was used as a baseline. Fumed silica and titania were separately added to the baseline at 1.0% and 3.0% by weight. Methanol was added to the baseline solution at 14.9% by weight, and also in combination with fumed silica at 14.9% and 1.0% by weight, respectively. The addition of 1.0% fumed silica nanoparticles produced significantly higher burning rates than the baseline HAN mixture over the entire pressure range. The mixture of 3.0% fumed silica resulted in even higher burning rates, but only at lower pressures. The addition of 1.0% titania nanoparticles also increased the linear burning rate, but slightly less so than silica. Also, 3.0% titania produced lower burning rates than 1% titania at lower pressures, and no difference was appearant at higher pressures. Solutions containing methanol displayed complex changes in burning behavior between pressure regimes. The mixture of 14.9% methanol showed a stark increase and plateau of burning rates at pressures between 12.4 and 16.1 MPa, whereas the mixture of 14.9% methanol and 1.0% silica resulted in lower burning rates and a less-prominent peak rather than the plateau seen with the methanol-only mixture.
