Reduced agglomeration in solid propellants containing porous aluminum. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yavor, Yinon; Rosenband, Valery; Gany, Alon
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 228:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1857
• Page End: 1862
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Porous -- aluminum -- agglomeration -- propellants; Aeronautics -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Airplanes -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; Aerospace industries -- Periodicals; 629.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0954410013495638
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4100

Abstract

The effects of using porous aluminum particles in solid propellants were studied, with emphasis on the agglomeration phenomena. Burning strands containing either regular (as-received) or porous aluminum were photographed by a high-speed camera, and particulate combustion products were analyzed in a laser particle analyzer. Results obtained from experiments conducted in a pressure-range of 1–34 atmospheres show that porous aluminum particles produce smaller agglomerates than regular aluminum. The median diameter of agglomerates resulting from porous aluminum reached, on average, 70% of the one originating from regular aluminum. This reduction in agglomerate diameter corresponds to a substantial volume (and hence, mass) decrease of approximately 65%. It is assumed that the high-specific area of the porous aluminum particles (10–18 m 2 /g, similar to that of nano-Al) results in high reactivity, leading to shorter ignition time and hence to the formation of smaller agglomerates.