Propellants and high energy materials compositions containing nano-scale oxidizer and other components

Abstract

Propellants and high energy materials compositions containing nano-sized oxidizer and other components. The propellant composition simulates a monopropellant formed by nano-sized propellant ingredients in the form of nano-scale reactors. When forming such monopropellant-like compositions, a protective coating is provided around the reactive ingredient. Coating the metal particles prevents formation of an oxidation layer.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]The present invention claims benefit of the U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 593,395 filed on Jan. 11, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention pertains to the field of propellants and energetic materials compositions and more particularly to propellant compositions containing nano-sized (less than 500 nm or 0.5 micron diameter) oxidizer and fuel components and partially nano and micron sized mixtures of various components providing nano-scale or micro-scale reactors. The compositions containing nano-scale materials are protected from mutual interaction by way of coating or encapsulation.[0004]2. Brief Description of the Prior Art[0005]Propellant compositions usually contain an oxidizer, a polymeric fuel binder, a gelling agent, and various other additives depending upon the type of propellants such as solid, liquid, or a gel. A majority of solid composite propellants use metals in order to increase the burn ra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It is another objective of this invention to use a selected morphology of nano-sized oxidizer particles synthesized (generated) by low temperature drying. Some useful particle shapes include, but are not restricted to, doughnut shapes, smaller circles, and tubes. These shapes will be effectively filled with desired components to form a nano-composite.

[0012]It is another objective of this invention to provide encapsulation methods to stabilize high-energy solids in order to reduce the sensitivity to thermal as well as mechanical shocks.

[0013]It is another objective to achieve an efficient ignition of propellant composition by way of nano-scale reactors with extremely small particles and hence greater surface area.

[0017]It is another objective to use mixtures of oxidizers such AP, AN, HMX and other oxidizers by co-dissolving and drying them to sub-micron particles and thus help to maximize specific impulse by enhanced energetics as well as enhance combustion behavior.

[0018]It is the final objective to achieve peak specific impulse from the propellant and other high energy solid systems by increasing the combustion efficiency of particles by way of providing the nano-reactor compositions of this invention.

Problems solved by technology

However, the great challenge in the prior art area is the high oxidation rate and stability of nano-sized aluminum powder in oxidizer compositions.

However, the oxide layer inhibits combustion.

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