B/Metal composites’ thermochemical properties and their effect on the performance of an ammonium perchlorate propellant

Abstract

Mainly the purpose of this research is to increase the oxidation efficiency of boron powder as well as to accelerate the decomposition of AP by carrying out the trials of several metals with boron-based and AP-based propellants. B/Mg, B/Al, B/Ni, B/Fe and B/Mo composites are prepared by employing ball milling method. The thermal analysis of doped boron powder with Fe and Mo shows the better activity and reaction performance. Then, the solid propellant (SP) is kneaded within proposed proportions of B/Metal composites, HTPB and AP. The B/Metal composites have improved the combustion performance of SP in air, notably in closed bomb and these had an obvious accelerating effect on the thermal decomposition of SP, especially B/Fe. The burning rates of SP/B/Fe in air and closed bomb are 60.4 and 139% faster than that of SP, respectively. Furthermore, B/Fe changed the decomposition process of AP and dropped in the peak temperature due to Fe-promoting effect. The multiple oxidation states enable Fe to be an attractive candidate as a dopant in propellants, which exhibits superior activity in the oxidation of B and decomposition of AP.