Multi-Parameter Study of Nanoscale TiO2 and CeO2 Additives in Composite AP/HTPB Solid Propellants Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • AbstractA statistical Taguchi L8 matrix was used to conduct a multiparameter study of the use of nanoscale additives in composite solid propellants. The additives studied were TiO2 (titania) and CeO2 (ceria). The other parameters involved in the experiment were the oxidizer loading and distribution, additive percentage and size, additive size (nanoscale or mscale), and the mixing method. Four baseline propellants without additives were also produced for comparison. The propellants were tested from 3.45 to 13.78MPa in a strand bomb, and burning rate curves were determined for all formulas. By analyzing the Taguchi matrix, the sensitivity of each parameter according to the pressure sensitivity and burning rate of the propellant was calculated. The dominant factors depend on whether the additive is needed for modifying the pressure index or the absolute value of the burning rate. In general, the effectiveness of the additives was most influenced by oxidizer percentage, oxidizer size distribution, and additive type. The amount of additive, mixing method, and additive size all had relatively minor impacts on the effectiveness of the additives.

published proceedings

  • PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PYROTECHNICS

author list (cited authors)

  • Stephens, M. A., Petersen, E. L., Carro, R., Reid, D. L., & Seal, S.

citation count

  • 41

complete list of authors

  • Stephens, Matthew A||Petersen, Eric L||Carro, Rodolphe||Reid, David L||Seal, Sudipta

publication date

  • April 2010

publisher