Study on the Burning Characteristics of AP/Al/HTPB Composite Solid Propellant Containing Nano-Sized Ferric Oxide Powder

Abstract

Abstract This study mainly explores the burning characteristics of AP/Al/HTPB composite solid propellant containing nano-sized ferric oxide (Fe2O3) powder. First, the appropriate dispersed technique is applied to prepare the propellant samples containing the ferric oxide (micro-sized and/or nano-sized) powder, and then the scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to observe the dispersed effect of ferric oxide powder in the propellant samples. Afterward, the reaction characteristics of the propellant samples are measured using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and the difference between their properties is analyzed. Finally, the propellant samples are processed to be used for various experiments, and the window bomb (WB), burning rate meter (BRM), and quenched particle collection bomb (QPCB) are used to study the burning characteristics. The burning phenomena are also analyzed by means of the combustion observation technique. Furthermore, the pull-testing machine is conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties. The experimental results show that adding nano-sized ferric oxide powder can reduce the thermal decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate (AP), and enhance the burning rate and combustion performance of AP/Al/HTPB composite solid propellant. Keywords: Burning characteristicsCombustion performanceComposite solid propellantNano-sized ferric oxide powder ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was financially supported by the National Science Council of R.O.C. under grant number NSC98-2623-E-606-005-D. The authors also thank Dr. X. M. Shen and Dr. C. F. Hsieh of the Fourth Division, Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, for supplying ingredients and supporting experiments.