Burn rate sensitization of solid propellants using a nano-titania additive
AssigneeUniversity of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsEric Petersen, Jennifer Small, Metthew Stephens, Jason Arvanetes, Sudipta Seal, Sameer Deshpande
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Abstract
Adding nanoparticles as a catalyst to solid propellant fuel to increase and enhance burn rates of the fuel by up to 10 times or more and/or modifying the pressure index. A preferred embodiment uses TiO2 nanoparticles mixed with a solid propellant fuel, where the nanoparticles are approximately 2% or less of total propellant mixture. The high surface to volume ratio of the nanoparticles improve the performance of the solid propellant fuel.
Claims11
A method for enhancing solid propellant burn rates, comprising the steps of:
- providing a solid propellant fuel;
- providing nanoparticles of TiO2 additive, where the titania additive is 10 nm or less;
- and
- mixing the nanoparticles of TiO2 additive with the solid propellant fuel, wherein the nanoparticle additive function as a catalyst to modify burn rate of the fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.