Iron Nanoparticle Additives as Burning Rate Enhancers in AP/HTPB Composite Propellants

Burning rate measurements were carried out for ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (AP/HTPB) composite propellants with iron (Fe) nanoparticles as additives. Experiments were performed in a strand burner at pressures from 0.2 to 10MPa for propellants containing approximately 80% AP and Fe nanoparticles (60-80nm) at concentration from 0 to 3% by weight. It was found that the addition of 1% Fe nanoparticles increased burning rate by factors of 1.2-1.6. Because Fe nanoparticles are oxidized on the surface and have high surface-to-volume ratio, they provide a large surface area of Fe2O3 for AP thermal decomposition catalysis at the burning propellant surface, while also providing added energy release due to the oxidation of nanoparticle sub-shell Fe. The increase in burning rate due to Fe nanoparticle content is similar to the increase in burning rate caused by the addition of iron oxide (Fe2O3) particles observed in prior literature.