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Interaction Mechanism of Composite Propellant Components under Heating Conditions
Jiahao Liang1, Jianxin Nie1, Haijun Zhang2
1State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Polymers
|June 10, 2023
Summary
Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and hydroxyl-terminated block copolyether prepolymer (HTPE) binders exhibit distinct thermal behaviors and interactions with ammonium perchlorate (AP). HTPB is more thermally stable, while HTPE decomposes easily, influencing propellant combustion characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Combustion Science
Background:
- Understanding binder-degradation interactions is crucial for solid propellant performance and safety.
- Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and hydroxyl-terminated block copolyether prepolymer (HTPE) are common binder systems.
- Ammonium perchlorate (AP) is a widely used oxidizer in solid propellants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermal characteristics and combustion interactions of HTPB and HTPE binder systems.
- To analyze the interactions between these binders and AP at various temperatures.
- To evaluate the susceptibility of different propellant formulations to thermal damage.
Main Methods:
- Thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis) to determine decomposition temperatures.
- Microstructural analysis to observe binder behavior upon heating.
- Combustion characteristic index (S) and mass damage (ΔW) measurements.
- Testing of HTPB/AP, HTPE/AP, HTPB/AP/Al, and HTPE/AP/Al propellant mixtures.
Main Results:
- HTPB binder showed higher decomposition peak temperatures (85.34 °C and 55.74 °C) compared to HTPE.
- HTPB binder became brittle upon heating, while HTPE liquefied.
- Combustion behavior varied: HTPB/AP initially mild then intensified; HTPE/AP initially rapid then slowed.
- HTPB/AP/Al propellants showed more intense combustion and stronger component interaction at high temperatures than HTPE/AP/Al.
Conclusions:
- Binder type significantly impacts thermal stability and combustion characteristics of AP-based propellants.
- HTPB offers greater thermal stability, while HTPE's decomposition can act as a combustion barrier.
- Component interactions are temperature-dependent and influence overall propellant performance.
Keywords:
combustion characteristicscomposite propellantinteractionthermal damage treatmentthermal weight lossMore Related Videos
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