Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder

Ammonium-nitrate-(AN-) based composite propellants prepared with a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)/polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) blend binder have unique thermal decomposition characteristics. In this study, the burning characteristics of AN/HTPB/PTHF propellants are investigated. The specific...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Makoto Kohga, Tomoki Naya, Kayoko Okamoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378483
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850215612729524224
author Makoto Kohga
Tomoki Naya
Kayoko Okamoto
author_facet Makoto Kohga
Tomoki Naya
Kayoko Okamoto
author_sort Makoto Kohga
collection DOAJ
description Ammonium-nitrate-(AN-) based composite propellants prepared with a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)/polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) blend binder have unique thermal decomposition characteristics. In this study, the burning characteristics of AN/HTPB/PTHF propellants are investigated. The specific impulse and adiabatic flame temperature of an AN-based propellant theoretically increases with an increase in the proportion of PTHF in the HTPB/PTHF blend. With an AN/HTPB propellant, a solid residue is left on the burning surface of the propellant, and the shape of this residue is similar to that of the propellant. On the other hand, an AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant does not leave a solid residue. The burning rates of the AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant are not markedly different from those of the AN/HTPB propellant because some of the liquefied HTPB/PTHF binder cover the burning surface and impede decomposition and combustion. The burning rates of an AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant with a burning catalyst are higher than those of an AN/HTPB propellant supplemented with a catalyst. The beneficial effect of the blend binder on the burning characteristics is clarified upon the addition of a catalyst. The catalyst suppresses the negative influence of the liquefied binder that covers the burning surface. Thus, HTPB/PTHF blend binders are useful in improving the performance of AN-based propellants.
format Article
id doaj-art-7fd683c3207344eaad2941e10ccb117a
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-5966
1687-5974
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
spelling doaj-art-7fd683c3207344eaad2941e10ccb117a2025-08-20T02:08:35ZengWileyInternational Journal of Aerospace Engineering1687-59661687-59742012-01-01201210.1155/2012/378483378483Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend BinderMakoto Kohga0Tomoki Naya1Kayoko Okamoto2Department of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy, Hashirimizu 1-10-20, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-8686, JapanDepartment of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy, Hashirimizu 1-10-20, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-8686, JapanDepartment of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy, Hashirimizu 1-10-20, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-8686, JapanAmmonium-nitrate-(AN-) based composite propellants prepared with a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)/polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) blend binder have unique thermal decomposition characteristics. In this study, the burning characteristics of AN/HTPB/PTHF propellants are investigated. The specific impulse and adiabatic flame temperature of an AN-based propellant theoretically increases with an increase in the proportion of PTHF in the HTPB/PTHF blend. With an AN/HTPB propellant, a solid residue is left on the burning surface of the propellant, and the shape of this residue is similar to that of the propellant. On the other hand, an AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant does not leave a solid residue. The burning rates of the AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant are not markedly different from those of the AN/HTPB propellant because some of the liquefied HTPB/PTHF binder cover the burning surface and impede decomposition and combustion. The burning rates of an AN/HTPB/PTHF propellant with a burning catalyst are higher than those of an AN/HTPB propellant supplemented with a catalyst. The beneficial effect of the blend binder on the burning characteristics is clarified upon the addition of a catalyst. The catalyst suppresses the negative influence of the liquefied binder that covers the burning surface. Thus, HTPB/PTHF blend binders are useful in improving the performance of AN-based propellants.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378483
spellingShingle Makoto Kohga
Tomoki Naya
Kayoko Okamoto
Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
title Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
title_full Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
title_fullStr Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
title_full_unstemmed Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
title_short Burning Characteristics of Ammonium-Nitrate-Based Composite Propellants with a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene/Polytetrahydrofuran Blend Binder
title_sort burning characteristics of ammonium nitrate based composite propellants with a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene polytetrahydrofuran blend binder
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/378483
work_keys_str_mv AT makotokohga burningcharacteristicsofammoniumnitratebasedcompositepropellantswithahydroxylterminatedpolybutadienepolytetrahydrofuranblendbinder
AT tomokinaya burningcharacteristicsofammoniumnitratebasedcompositepropellantswithahydroxylterminatedpolybutadienepolytetrahydrofuranblendbinder
AT kayokookamoto burningcharacteristicsofammoniumnitratebasedcompositepropellantswithahydroxylterminatedpolybutadienepolytetrahydrofuranblendbinder