METHOD OF INCREASING THE BURNING RATE ENHANCEMENT BY MECHANICAL ACCELERATORS

Abstract

The mechanical burning rate accelerators, e.g., graphite linters or aluminum whiskers, which are employed to enhance the burning rate of solid propellants are modified by depositing specks of metal selected from the group of metals consisting of iron, vanadium, or palladium on the graphite linters or aluminum whiskers. An increase in burning rate of the propellant composition is achieved when the modified mechanical burning rate accelerators in an approximately equal percentage by weight is substituted for the unmodified graphite linters or aluminum whiskers in the propellant composition. During the propellant burning the specks of metal generate localized hot spots of heat which is graphite linters or aluminum whiskers conduct into the propellant and thereby produces the increase in burning rate. The propellant with which the modified mechanical burning rate accelerators is evaluated comprised nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, carboranylmethyl propionate, stabilizers, ammonium perchlorate, aluminum casting powder portion, and the modified mechanical burning rate accelerators in a major portion of nitroglycerine, a minor portion of a stabilizer, and a minor portion of a plasticizer in a casting solvent portion.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1DAVID C. SAYLES

Sensitive facility: Huntsville AL (NASA/Army)