Burning-Rate Characteristics of Composite Propellant Using Ammonium Perchlorate Modified by Ethylene Glycol

Ammonium perchlorate (AP)-based composite propellants are currently the most widely used type of propellant. AP composite propellants with high burning rates are desirable for many applications. In this study, hexahedral crystal-habit-modified AP was prepared from ethylene glycol. Modified AP possessed a remarkably intense lattice plane (210) due to the magnitude of crystal habit modification in AP. Thermal decomposition and ignition behavior of modified AP was superior to those of standard AP. The burning rate of propellant containing modified AP was higher than propellant with standard AP. The effect of crystal habit modification on burning rate was dependent on the extent of modification. Results of this study revealed that crystal-habit-modified AP prepared with ethylene glycol was an effective oxidizer that enhanced the burning rate of AP-based composite propellants.