Kathmandu

University
Case Study on Materials
for solid propellant

Submitted by : Pawan sharma Submitted to : Pawan KarKi

Roll no : 26 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Group : Hydro

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INTRODUCTION
 A propellant is a chemical substance used in the production of energy or
pressurized gas that is subsequently used to create movement of a fluid or to
generate propulsion of a vehicle, projectile, or other object.

 Solid propellants are widely used in gun and rocket propulsion applications. They
are very energetic and produce high temperature gaseous products on combustion.
The energy produced by a unit volume of a propellant is called its energy density.
[1]

Figure.1 Solid propellant

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MATERIALS FOR SOLID
PROPELLANTS

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OXIDIZER

 Oxidizers are principle ingredients, which produce the high energy on

combustion. One of the most commonly used oxidizers is ammonium
perchlorate (AP).

 Solid oxidizers provide oxygen needed to burn solid rocket motor fuel. By
carrying fuel and oxidizer together, the rocket does not depend on the
atmosphere for oxygen. Nitro-amines are not oxidizer, but high explosives
added to propellants to increase their performance.

 Ammonium Perchlorate is supplied in the form of small white crystals.

Particle size and shape influences the manufacturing process and the
propellant burning rate.[2]

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METAL FUEL
 Metal fuels such as aluminum and boron are frequently added to propellant
mixtures. Aluminum, one of the widely used metal additives, is used in the
form of small spherical particles (5–60 μm) in a wide variety of solid
propellants. Aluminum particles usually comprise 14–20% of the
propellant weight.[3]

Figure 3.Microstructure of aluminum

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BINDER
 Binders provide structurally a matrix in which solid granular ingredients are held
together in a composite propellant.

 Commonly used binders are Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene , and Nitro

Cellulose.

 Sometimes Glycidyl azide polymer is also used as energetic binder, which

increases the energy density and performance of the propellant. [3]

Figure.6 Micro structure of HTPB

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CURING AGENT
 A curing agent causes the prepolymers to form longer chains of larger
molecular mass and interlocks between chains.

 Curing agents are also referred to as crosslinkers.

 They solidify and harden the binder.

 Hexamethylene diiscocyanate, Toulenediiscocyanate, and sophorone

diisocyanate are some examples of curing agents.[3]

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PHASE DIAGRAM

Figure.4 Flame temperature of AP/HTPB propellant for different AP percentages

 
The burning rate of composite solid propellant is dependent on the
particle size of the AP crystals. Propellants with smaller AP particle size
will have a higher burning rate, where larger AP will result in a slower
burning rate.[4]

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PROPELLANT CHARACTERISTICS

 High performance or high specific impulse; really this means high gas
temperature and/or low molecular mass.

 Predictable, reproducible, and initially adjustable burning rate to fit the

need of the grain design and the thrust-time requirement.

 For minimum variation in thrust or chamber pressure, the pressure or

burning rate exponent and the temperature coefficient should be small.

 Good aging characteristics and long life.

 High density (allows a small-volume motor).[5]

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REFERENCES
 [1] King Saud University, Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
“Arabian Journal of Chemistry Volume 12”, Issue 8, December 2019.
 [2] George P. Sutton, Oscar Biblarz, John wiley & Sons, Rocket propulsion
Elements, 7th Edition in 2010
 [3] Chaturvedi, S., Dave, P.N., 2011, “A Review on the Use of Nanometals
as Catalysts for the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate” J.
of Saudia Chemical.
 [4] Kreitz, Kevin R, “Catalytic nanoparticle additives in the combustion of
AP/HTBP composite solid propellant a thesis” 2012.

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