New Additives for Modifying the Burn Rate of Composite Solid Propellants
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The ability of nano-particle additives to tailor the burning rate of composite solid rocket propellants is being explored in the authors' laboratories. In the present study, two different nano-particles and two separate styles of mixing in the additive were investigated. These variations were tested on a typical HTPB/AP composite rocket propellant with varying characteristics. After a baseline study was completed without additives, a Taguchi L8 matrix was designed to fully test the effect of six different mixture variables and the two different additives on the burning rate. The propellants were tested in a strand bomb at pressures ranging from approximately 34 to 136 atm, and some representative data are provided. The results thus far indicate that small levels of nano-particle additives (1 wt %) can have significant effects on the magnitude and pressure dependence of the composite propellant.