Characterization of Aluminum Powders: IV. Effect of Nanometals on the Combustion of Aluminized Ammonium Nitrate-Based Solid Propellants

This study is devoted to the investigation of the energetic properties of two types of aluminized solid propellants with inert and active binders modified by additives of six different metal nanopowders. The substitution of an inert binder for the active one resulted in significant improvement of energetic properties. However, burning rate regulation become more complicated because the pressure exponent in burning rate law was increased as well. The DSC analysis revealed that the most significant catalytic effects were observed while using Zn, Cu, and Mo powders. Combustion of compositions based on an inert combustible binder and ammonium nitrate was studied in the pressure range 0.1-10.0 MPa. Due to the low combustion rate, no dispersion of burning aluminum particles was observed. During combustion, a single agglomerate of aluminum particles was formed, the mass of which was about 96 % of the initial aluminum mass in the formulation. A comparative analysis of nanosized metal additive effect on the propellant's combustion process was performed. It had been found that the activity of the metal nanopowders depends on the propellant formulation. It had been shown that Al and Zn did not affect the combustion rate of propellant with inert binder but they were effective in compositions with an active binder. Cu and Ni were found to be a good catalyst for the ammonium nitrate and active binder decomposition.

Automated summary

This study investigated the energetic properties of two types of aluminized solid propellants with inert and active binders modified by additives of different metal nanopowders. Significant improvement in energetic properties was observed by substituting an inert binder for an active one, although burning rate regulation became more complex. Certain metal nanopowders, such as Zn, Cu, and Mo, were found to have significant catalytic effects during combustion.