Fast-Impulse Nanothermite Solid-Propellant Miniaturized Thrusters

Fast-Impulse Nanothermite Solid-Propellant Miniaturized Thrusters

Highly reactive nanothermites prepared by mixing bismuth trioxide or cupric oxide nanoparticles with aluminum nanoparticles were evaluated as solid propellants for small-scale propulsion applications. Miniaturized engines were fabricated from steel in three-piece configurations without a converging/...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of propulsion and power 2013-11, Vol.29 (6), p.1400-1409
Main Authors: Staley, Clay S, Raymond, Kristofer E, Thiruvengadathan, Rajagopalan, Apperson, Steven J, Gangopadhyay, Keshab, Swaszek, Sean M, Taylor, Robert J, Gangopadhyay, Shubhra
Format: Article
Language:eng
Subjects:
Aluminum
Bismuth trioxide
Bulk density
Cellulose esters
Cellulose nitrate
COMBUSTION
COMPOSITES
Copper oxides
CUPRIC OXIDE
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
Energy conversion efficiency
Evaluation
Impulses
MICROMACHINING
MICROSTRUCTURES
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanoparticles
Nanostructure
Nozzles
OXIDATION
Packing density
PROPELLANTS
Propulsion
Solid propellants
Specific impulse
Thrust
Thrusters
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Summary:Highly reactive nanothermites prepared by mixing bismuth trioxide or cupric oxide nanoparticles with aluminum nanoparticles were evaluated as solid propellants for small-scale propulsion applications. Miniaturized engines were fabricated from steel in three-piece configurations without a converging/diverging nozzle. Bismuth trioxide-aluminum generated 46.1 N average thrusts for 1.7 ms durations with a specific impulse of 41.4 s. Cupric oxide-aluminum generated 4.6 N thrusts for 5.1 ms durations with a specific impulse of 20.2 s. Convective and conductive reaction regimes were identified as functions of bulk packing density and confinement geometry. Average thrusts and burning durations differed by greater than an order of magnitude for equivalent nanothermites dependent on the reaction regime. Adding small amounts of nitrocellulose to the nanothermites increased specific and volumetric impulses to maximum values of 59.4 s and 2.3  mN·s/mm3 while controllably reducing average thrusts and prolonging burning durations. The energy-conversion efficiencies of the thrusters were evaluated using a rotary-arm measurement, and a maximum efficiency of 0.19% was observed. Last, a miniaturized four-engine array was fabricated with micromachined initiators and sequentially fired. The high specific and volumetric impulses, fast combustion, and tailored reactions of nanothermites are appealing for many small-scale propulsion applications.
ISSN:0748-4658
1533-3876