A Study on Combustion Characteristics of Insensitive Triple-Base Propellant

Abstract

Research on combustion characteristics can provide basic information and theoretical support for the design of insensitive propellant. This work aims to investigate the combustion characteristics of insensitive triple-base propellant. All propellants were prepared based on same triple-base propellant, but they were desensitized with the same desensitizer in different ways. The high-speed camera, spontaneous luminescence, NO, NH chemiluminescence, and OH-planar laser induction fluorescence (PLIF) methods were employed to capture the combustion flame and derive the distributions of important intermediates. Results show that ignition delay times of insensitive propellants are obviously longer. This indicated that the application of the desensitizer has a partly hindering effect on the early ignition stage. The combustion time of insensitive propellants is mostly similar, which means that the desensitizer has little influence on the intensity of actual combustion. The change in flame height and area of insensitive propellants over time indicated that the combustion progressivity of some insensitive propellants was more prominent, which means that the desensitizer concentration and desensitizing methods all affect the performance of insensitive propellant. The signal intensities of NO and NH show a negative correlation, indicating that a competitive relationship probably exists between the formation of NO and NH radicals during the reaction process. The high concentration of OH mainly locates outside NO, suggesting that there may be a transformation between NO and OH. The maximum signal intensity of NO and NH of different insensitive propellants confirmed that both the concentration of desensitizers and the desensitizing methods exhibit important effect on the reaction process.

Investigation of Flame Structures of Double-Base Propellant and Modified Double-Base Propellant Containing Nitramine Using OH-PLIF and Kinetic Simulation

“…Yang et al studied the change in flame height and area of insensitive triple-base propellants over time using OH-PLIF technology and found that the high concentration of OH radicals is mainly located outside NO, suggesting that there may be a transformation between NO and OH radicals. They indicated that both the concentration of the desensitizers and the methods of desensitization have important effects on the reaction process [ 15 ]. Yan et al used a high-speed camera and OH-PLIF to capture the luminescence characteristics and OH concentration distribution in the flames of TKX-50 and TKX-50/AP composites.…”

The Influence of Propellant Deterrent Concentration Profile on Combustion Performance

“…By far, extensive research has been made on the combustion properties of deterred propellants. For instance, Zheng et al [5] prepared desensitized triple base propellants containing NGu by the polymer deterrent technology and found that the surface structure of the deterred propellants was densified and the ignition delay time was increased, resulting in enhanced burning progressivity and boosted internal ballistic properties. Liu et al [6] investigated the effects of a modified single base propellant's functional component concentration profile on combustion performance.…”