MECHANICAL ENHANCEMENT OF THE BURNING RATE OF SOLID PROPELLANTS BY MEANS OF SHRINK TUBES OR SPHERES

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of enhancing the rate of consumption of a propellant as a result of having shrink tubes or spheres embedded in the propellant. The shrink tubes suitable for use in this method are derived from various polyurethane or polyolefin resins which undergo shrinkage when exposed to moderate heat. The mechanism of enhancement derives from the fact that when the flame front reaches the shrink tube or sphere, the tube or sphere undergoes shrinkage, and thus, exposes additional propellant surface to the burning process. High burning rate are achieved because of the apparent reduced overall propellant web created by the presence of and resultant action to these shrink tubes or spheres. A modification of the method of this invention is to embed these plastic tubings in the propellant, raise the temperature of the propellant mass to a temperature at which the tubing will undergo shrinkage. The porosity, thus introduced into the propellant as a result of tubing shrinkage, will result in ultrahigh burning rates well beyond that achievable without prior shrinkage of tubing prior to burning the propellant mass. A further modification of the method of this invention involves filling the thermally-shrinkable tubing with rapidly combustible propellant which would burn out more rapidly than the matrix propellant, and thus, produce even higher burning rates.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1DAVID C. SAYLES