Method for controlling a high performance electrically controlled solution solid propellant
AssigneeDigital Solid State Propulsion, LLC
InventorsArthur Katzakian, Charles Grix
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
Claims9
A method of controlling a propellant, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an electrically controlled propellant, the propellant made through the steps of:
- i. creating a mixture of heat treated PVA/PVAN copolymer binder of approximately 12 mol % PVAN, a hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) based oxidizer, a 5-aminotetrazole stabilizer, and a dipyridyl complexing agent;
- and
- ii. dissolving boric acid in said mixture, thereby crosslinking said heat treated PVA/PVAN copolymer with said boric acid;
- and
- b. adapting said propellant to a thrust controller.
A method of controlling a propellant, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an electrically controlled propellant, the propellant made through the steps of:
- i. creating a mixture of PVA/PVAN co-polymer binder, a hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) based oxidizer, a 5-aminotetrazole (5ATZ) stabilizer, a dipyridyl complexing agent;
- and boric acid;
- b. cooling said mixture of said PVA/PVAN co-polymer binder, said HAN based oxidizer, said 5ATZ stabilizer and said boric acid such that they all remain dissolved;
- c. curing said mixture by heat treatment;
- d. adapting said propellant to a thrust controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.