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Enhancing the Thermal Stability and Combustion Performance of NC-Based Propellants via Bu-NENA Modification
Zhifeng Yuan1,2, Su-Lan Yang3, Fengqi Zhao2
1National Key Laboratory of Solid Rocket Propulsion, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 4, 2024
Summary
This study developed insensitive nitrocellulose (NC)-based propellants using N-butyl-N-nitratoethyl nitramine (Bu-NENA) to replace nitroglycerin (NG). Bu-NENA enhanced thermal stability but reduced burning rates, though it increased low-pressure combustion performance.
Area of Science:
- Energetic Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Combustion Science
Background:
- Nitrocellulose (NC)-based propellants are crucial energetic materials.
- Improving thermal stability and safety is a key challenge in propellant development.
- Nitroglycerin (NG) is a common energetic plasticizer but poses safety concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel insensitive smokeless nitrocellulose-based propellants.
- To evaluate the impact of replacing nitroglycerin (NG) with N-butyl-N-nitratoethyl nitramine (Bu-NENA) on propellant properties.
- To investigate the thermal stability, reactivity, and combustion characteristics of these new propellants.
Main Methods:
- Absorption rolling method for propellant preparation.
- Vacuum stability test (VST) for thermal stability assessment.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TG)/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermal reactivity.
- Constant-volume combustion diagnosis system for combustion analysis.
Main Results:
- Replacing NG with Bu-NENA significantly enhanced propellant thermal stability.
- Increased Bu-NENA content led to a decrease in the propellant's burning rate.
- Bu-NENA addition reduced decomposition heat release but increased burning rate under low pressure (e.g., 5.23 mm·s⁻¹ at 2 MPa for Bu-0503).
- Higher Bu-NENA content resulted in lower flame temperatures and more luminous flames.
Conclusions:
- N-butyl-N-nitratoethyl nitramine (Bu-NENA) is an effective additive for creating insensitive nitrocellulose (NC)-based propellants with improved thermal stability.
- Trade-offs exist between thermal stability, burning rate, and flame characteristics when using Bu-NENA.
- Bu-NENA offers potential for tailored propellant performance, particularly under specific combustion conditions.
