Effects of an Organic‐inorganic Nanocomposite Additive on the Combustion and Erosion Performance of High Energy Propellants Containing RDX

Abstract

A nanocomposite microsphere consisting of solid paraffin, nano-TiO 2 , nano-BN, zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 particles and polymethyl methacrylate was prepared and applied as a functional additive for high energy propellants (with about 23 wt % RDX) to reduce the barrel erosion and improve its combustion performance as well. High energy propellants modified with the nanocomposite were manufactured by a solvent extrusion technique. According to the scanning electron microscope and differential scanning calorimetry results, there exists a good compatibility between the nanocomposite and propellant matrix. The energy and combustion performance as well as erosion of the modified propellants were studied by a closed bomb test and an erosion tube device, respectively.Results showed that compared with the unmodified propellant, both the erosion and energy performance of modified high energy propellant gradually decreased with the increase of nanocomposites contents. When the content of nanocomposites was 5.1 %, the erosion mass of the modified propellant reduced to 37.0 % while the propellant force only decreased 5.7 %, indicating that the nanocomposite has enormous ability to improve gun erosion resistance while barely affect energy performance of propellant. Furthermore, the closed bomb burning curves of the samples showed that addition of nanocomposites to propellant matrix could prolong the combustion time, efficiently inhibit the initial generation rate of combustion gas, and further achieve the progressive burning of the propellants.

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Robust Microencapsulated Silicone Oil with a Hybrid Shell for Reducing Propellant Erosion

“…In this paper, the erosion effect of the composite microcapsules that fills up the propellant charging system can be expressed by anti-erosion efficiency (E) which can be calculated by the following two equations [20]:…”

Studies on Effect of Nitrogen Rich Explosives on the Morphology, Thermal and Combustion Behaviour of B/KNO3 Composition

“…Overall it has been gathered from the literature that high energy materials such as RDX, HMX, FOX-7, and CL-20, when used in propellants, have given promising results. Reduced vulnerability, better output, and higher burning rate are some of the characteristics incorporated in the propellant compositions on the inclusion of high-energy materials [16][17][18]. In a recent study Wang et al [19] reported that burning rates of composite modified double base (CMDB) propellants increased substantially with the addition of CL-20 and decreased with the addition of RDX.…”

“…Overall it has been gathered from the literature that high energy materials such as RDX, HMX, FOX‐7, and CL‐20, when used in propellants, have given promising results. Reduced vulnerability, better output, and higher burning rate are some of the characteristics incorporated in the propellant compositions on the inclusion of high‐energy materials [16–18]. In a recent study Wang et al.…”