Effect of ultrafine aluminum on the combustion of composite solid propellants at subatmospheric pressures

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the combustion of composite solid propellants with a double oxidizer (ammonium perchlorate/HMX) at pressures of 0.03–0.1 MPa. Systems containing a micron-sized aluminum powder (ASD-4) and the Alex ultrafine aluminum powder were investigated. It was shown that the replacement of ASD-4 by Alex in propellant systems led to an increase in the burning rate. The aluminum particle size and the oxidizer excess coefficient were found to affect the exponent in the power-law burning-rate dependence. The range of the oxidizer excess coefficient was determined that corresponded to the effective replacement of micron-sized aluminum by ultrafine aluminum for which the exponent in the power-law burning rate dependence decreases. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 47–55, January–February, 2009.     

Mechanical and burning properties of highly loaded composite propellants

An improvement in the performance of solid rocket motors was achieved by increasing the oxidizer content of HTPB-based solid propellants. To minimize the adverse changes in the mechanical and rheological properties due to the increased amount of hard solid particles in the soft polymeric binder matrix, the optimum combination of the particle sizes and volume fractions of the bimodal ammonium perchlorate and the aluminum powder in the solid load was obtained from the results of testing a series of propellant samples prepared by using ammonium perchlorate in four different average particle sizes, 9.22, 31.4, 171, and 323 μm. The maximum packing density of solids in the binder matrix was determined by changing the sizes and the volume fractions of fine and coarse ammonium perchlorate at constant solid loading. The average size (10.4 μm) and concentration of aluminum powder used as metallic fuel were maintained constant for ballistic requirements. Optimum sizes and fine-to-coarse ratio of ammonium perchlorate particles were determined to be at mean diameters of 31.4 and 323 μm and fine-to-coarse ratio of 35/65. Solid content of the propellant was then increased from 75 to 85.6% by volume by using the predetermined optimum sizes and fine to coarse ratio of ammonium perchlorate. Mechanical properties of the propellant samples were measured by using an Instron tester with a crosshead speed of 50 mm/min at 25°C. The effect of oxidizer content and fine-to-coarse ratio of oxidizer on the burning rate of the propellant was also investigated by using a strand burner at various pressures. From experiments in which the size and the fine-to-coarse ratio of ammonium perchlorate were changed at constant solid loading, a minimum value of initial modulus was obtained for each fine-to-coarse ratio, indicating that the solids packing fraction is maximum at this ratio. The tensile strength and the burning rate increase, while the elongation at maximum stress decreases with increasing fine-to-coarse ratio of ammonium perchlorate. Experiments in which the total solid loading was increased at constant fine-to-coarse ratio of ammonium perchlorate show that the modulus, the tensile strength and the burning rate increase, while the elongation at maximum stress decreases with increasing solid loading. Propellants having solid loading of up to 82% exhibit acceptable mechanical properties and improved burning properties suitable for rocket applications. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:1457–1464, 1998     

Effect of the passivating coating type, particle size, and storage time on oxidation and nitridation of aluminum powders

Processes of nonisothermal oxidation, nitridation, and ageing of aluminum powders with different particle sizes (nano-sized powder, ASD-1 powder, and PAP-2 powder) are considered. Application of non-oxide coatings onto particles of aluminum nanopowders reduces their thermal stability. Owing to scale-shaped particles, the PAP-2 powder after long-time storage preserves high activity of oxidation and nitridation, which is commensurable with that of the aluminum nanopowder. The activity of the coarse ASD-1 powder consisting of spherical particles in terms of oxidation and nitridation is low and only slightly changes during ageing. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 61–69, March–April, 2006.     

Condensed combustion products of aluminized propellants. IV. Effect of the nature of nitramines on aluminum agglomeration and combustion efficiency

The condensed combustion products of two model propellants consisting of ammonium perchlorate, aluminum, nitramine, and an energetic binder were studied by a sampling method. One of the propellants contained HMX with a particle size D ₁₀ ≈ 490 μm, and the other RDX with a particle size _{D 10} ≈ 380 μm. The particle-size distribution and the content of metallic aluminum in particles of condensed combustion products with a particle size of 1.2 μm to the maximum particle size in the pressure range of 0.1–6.5 MPa were determined with variation in the particle quenching distance from the burning surface to 100 mm. For agglomerates, dependences of the incompleteness of aluminum combustion on the residence time in the propellant flame were obtained. The RDX-based propellant is characterized by more severe agglomeration than the HMX-based propellant — the agglomerate size and mass are larger and the aluminum burnout proceeds more slowly. The ratio of the mass of the oxide accumulated on the agglomerates to the total mass of the oxide formed is determined. The agglomerate size is shown to be the main physical factor that governs the accumulation of the oxide on the burning agglomerate. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 78–92, July–August, 2006.     

Effect of heating rate on properties of transparent aluminum oxynitride sintered by spark plasma sintering

High heating rates ranging from 50 to 250°C/min are selected to rapidly sinter transparent aluminum oxynitride (AlON) ceramics by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1600°C under 60 MPa using a bimodal AlON powder synthesized by the carbothermal reduction and nitridation method. With 1 minute holding time before cooling, all the specimens show high density and high transparence. The maximum transmittance is up to 74.5%-80.6%, where the maximum transmittance is positively correlated with the heating rate. Further analysis reveals that faster heating rates enable the decrease in the amount of the AlON phase decomposed into the α-Al₂O₃ and AlN phases during heating. These α-Al₂O₃ and AlN phases have to be converted back to AlON at the final stage of sintering, which indicates that a decrease in the amount of the α-Al₂O₃ and AlN phases via the boosted heating leads to the higher transmittance of the AlON ceramics. The high heating rates and short holding duration of the SPS utilized in this study result in the fine grain size of the obtained ceramics (1-6 μm) compared to that of the AlON ceramics fabricated by the conventional sintering method. This effect of high heating rates is confirmed by the coupled densification-grain growth modeling. In turn, the obtained AlON specimens exhibit a Vickers hardness of 15.87-16.62 GPa.     

Effects of addition of condensed tannin on the structure and properties of silk fibroin film

Condensed tannin is a polymeric polyphenol compound, which has considerable protein‐binding ability and a variety of bioactivities, such as anti‐inflammatory, antithrombotic and antimicrobial activities. In this study, silk fibroin film was modified by adding condensed tannin. It was found that strong intermolecular interactions occurred between silk fibroin and tannin, and incorporation of 1–10% (w/w) tannin in the blend films resulted in more compact, stiffer but less elastic films. Swelling and dissolution trials showed that the addition of tannin significantly reduced the swelling and solubility of the films. The mechanical properties, swelling and solubility of the blend films varied as a function of tannin concentration, showing optimum values when containing 10% (w/w) tannin. The silk fibroin–tannin films all showed significant antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, and the activities were positively related to the concentration of tannin. The results emphasized that the addition of condensed tannin could simultaneously improve the structural stability of silk fibroin film and impart functional properties. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of nitrocellulose (NC) on morphology,rheological and mechanical properties of glycidyl azide polymer based energetic thermoplastic elastomer/NC blends

As a new kind of propellant binder, energetic thermoplastic elastomer (ETPE ) can improve propellant recyclability and environmentally friendly disposal. The rheological behavior of the ETPE binder can be beneficial to identify suitable and safe conditions for processing ETPE propellants. In this paper, ETPE /nitrocellulose (NC ) blends with different mass ratios of NC to ETPE were prepared by the physical mixing method. The heat of explosion and the morphological, thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of the resulting blends were studied systematically. It was found that the heat of explosion of ETPE /NC blends increased with increasing NC content. SEM images showed that the NC domains in the blends changed from tiny pieces to fibers with increasing NC mass ratio, which indicates phase separation in the blends. The tensile mechanical properties of the blends had a peak value when the NC content was 10 wt%, and then increased with the increasing addition of NC . The thermal behavior made clear that the ETPE and NC were partially miscible. Rheological studies on dynamic strain sweep and frequency sweep demonstrated that the content of NC in the blends had a monotonic effect on their rheological properties at 130 °C. Rheological studies also showed that the rheology of the blends is dependent on temperature. The Cole ? Cole and Han plots confirmed phase separation in the blends. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of macroscopic heterogeneity of the medium on the solid-state combustion wave characteristics in thermally and chemically heterogeneous media

A macroscopically heterogeneous medium is modeled by a set of cylinders (rods) pressed from a mixture of solid reagents, which have coaxial cylindrical cores made from an inert material. A three-dimensional mathematical model describing propagation of combustion waves over one cylinder is studied by numerical methods. The influence of the distance between the centerlines of the neighboring cylinders and transverse sizes of the cylinders on characteristics of combustion waves propagating over a heterogeneous medium is considered. It is demonstrated that there exists an optimal distance between the inert rods, which ensures a much higher velocity of the combustion wave along the specimen than the theoretically predicted velocity of the classical combustion wave propagating over a solid specimen. New types of spinning waves are described, whose motion makes the high-temperature spot move inside the charge mixture. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 39–49, May–June, 2008.     

Effect of delaying addition of some concrete admixtures on the rheological properties of cement pastes

The effect of delayed addition of two concrete admixtures, namely melamine formaldehyde sulfonate (MFS) and naphthalene formaldehyde sulfonate (NFS), on the rheological and adsorption properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), sulfate-resisting cement (SRC) and silica fume-ordinary Portland cement (SF-OPC) pastes was investigated. The admixture addition was delayed by 1, 3, 6, 10 and 13 min after the addition of mixing water. The shear stress, as well as the apparent viscosity of these cement pastes, was determined at different shear rates. Total organic carbon (TOC), Ca²⁺ concentration and conductivity of the filtrate and the combined water content of the precipitated cement pastes were determined. The results show that delaying the admixtures addition increases the cement pastes workability than that of simultaneous addition.     

改性粘土对天然橡胶纳米复合材料形态及流变特性的影响

采用3种有机改性剂分别对无机粘土进行改性,然后通过熔融共混制得了天然橡胶(NR)/有机粘土纳米复合材料。通过热重分析(TGA)和X-射线衍射(XRD)表征了粘土的有机改性程度。用扫描电镜(SEM)和流变手段表征了纳米复合材料的形态和流变特性。结果表明,含有2条长烷基链和含有2个羟乙基官能团的改性剂对粘土具有更好的改性效果,但由于羟乙基官能团具有强极性,与非极性的NR相容性差,导致有机粘土在基体中大量团聚。各纳米复合材料的储能模量在低频区表现出不同程度的"二次平台"或者"上翘",在时间扫描过程中随着时间变化表现出不同的结构演变。     

含能功能化氧化石墨烯的制备、热分解行为及其对AP热分解的催化作用

为了提高氧化石墨烯(GO)对高氯酸铵(AP)热分解反应的催化活性,以GO和2,4,6-三硝基苯胺(TNA)为原料,N,N-二甲基甲酰胺、三乙胺为溶剂和酸束缚剂,合成一种新型含能功能化氧化石墨烯(EFGO);采用HRTEM、FT-IR、Raman和XPS表征了EFGO结构;采用TG-DTG和DSC分析了EFGO的热分解行为及EFGO对AP热分解反应的催化作用。结果表明,TNA通过共价键修饰至GO片层表面,其中,TNA分子中的—NH2与GO片层表面的C—O—C发生开环反应,生成C—NH键;EFGO热稳定性高,在143.8~770.0℃范围内发生了非常缓慢的失重过程,最大失重率发生在约172.1℃,整个过程失重21.2%;EFGO质量分数分别为2.5%、5%和10%时,可使AP在高温阶段的分解峰温分别降低25.6、48.0和113.1℃,表观分解放热量分别增加371、1499和2693J/g;表明EFGO对AP热分解反应的催化活性相对于GO得到显著提高,将其作为非金属含能催化剂应用于AP基固体推进剂具有潜在的应用前景。     

Effect of the aeration rate on pullulan production and fermentation broth rheological properties in an airlift reactor

The effect of aeration rate on pullulan production and the rheological properties of the fermentation broth in an airlift reactor was investigated. An airlift fermenter was shown to be an appropriate fermentation system for the production of pullulan. A maximum pullulan concentration (30 kg m^?3), biomass concentration (6.0 kg m^?3), pullulan yield (60%, w/w) and sugar utilization (100%, w/w) was obtained at an aeration rate of 2 vvm. The mycelium and the yeast‐like cells were the morphological forms responsible for pullulan production. The highest polysaccharide concentration was obtained when the mycelial forms and the yeast‐like cells were 60% and 40% (w/w) of the total biomass, respectively. The apparent viscosity of the broth was increased with the increase of the aeration rate from 1 to 2 vvm and then decreased at higher vvms. On the other hand, the dissolved oxygen concentration and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient continually increased with the increase of the aeration rate. The mycelial forms and the production of extracellular polysaccharide were responsible for the non‐Newtonian flow behaviour of the fermentation broth. The rheological behaviour can be characterized by a power law type of equation. The relationship between shear rate/shear stress and shear rate/apparent viscosity showed a non‐Newtonian behaviour of the fermentation broth. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of shade and thermo-mechanical viscosity stimulation methods on the rheological properties of nanohybrid resin composite

The aim of the present study is to measure the rheological properties of nanohybrid resin composite of three shades in pre-polymerized phase using different thermomechanical stimulations. Nanohybrid composite (Kerr Herculite XRV Ultra) in enamel, dentin, and incisal shades was included. Rheological measurements were made with a rotational rheometer in dynamic oscillation mode using three methods: (a) Strain Sweep test explored a range of deformation γ₀ from 0.025 to 3% with a frequency ω = 1 Hz (temperature set at 25 and 65?°C), (b) Frequency Sweep test explored frequencies between 1 and 100 rad/s applying a deformation γ₀ = 0.5% (temperature set at 25; 45; 65?°C), and (c) Ramp Temperature test explored a heating phase from 25 to 75?°C then a cooling phase back to 25?°C applying a γ₀ = 0.5% and a ω = 10 rad/s. Data were analyzed using a three-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Viscosity measurement (p < 0.05) and shade of the composites (p < 0.05) significantly affected the results. Viscosity turned out to be subordinate to strain amplitude, frequency, temperature, and axial force applied during each test. Enamel shade was the most viscous whereas dentin shade was 8% less viscous (p < 0.05). The incisal shade was significantly less viscous (70%) than enamel (p < 0.05). Pre-heating decreased viscosity of incisal shade (30%) above 50?°C but this value was 90 and 98%, respectively, for strain and frequency sweep test. Preheating had a side effect as in the cooling phase, viscosity increased from 66 to 450% exceeding the value recorded at the beginning of the test. Preheating was not effective to reduce viscosity, and may reveal some side effects. The composite tested might not be pre-heated above 45?°C.     

Effect of solvent exchange on the structure and rheological properties of cellulose in LiCl/DMAc

Effect of solvent exchange on the structure of cellulose was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The solvent exchange facilitated the dissolution of cellulose in LiCl/DMAc with no change of the crystalline structure of cellulose. In contrast, solvent exchange led to the fibrillation on the treated fiber surface and the trimmed rod‐like particles, further confirming the occurrence of particle disintegration. The rheological properties of three cellulose samples with different degrees of polymerization (DP) and different concentrations were investigated. Results indicated that the cellulose LiCl/DMAc solutions were non‐Newtonian fluids. At low deformation rates the cellulose solution behaved like a viscous liquid (loss modulus G″ being larger than storage modulus G′), but elastic properties developed at high angular frequency. The two domains of viscoelastic behavior were separated by the so‐called crossover point for G′ and G″, which was slightly shifted to lower frequencies as the testing temperature increased from 50 to 80°C. As the concentration and the average molecular weight (or DP) increased, the angular frequency at the crossover point increased also under the experimental conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Effect of TPU hard segment content on the rheological and mechanical properties of PLA/TPU blends

Blends of an amorphous polylactide (PLA) with three different thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) grades having various hard segment (HS) contents are prepared at the blending ratio of 85/15 wt% through a twin-screw extruder (TSE) at processing temperatures of 150 and 190°C. Blends of a semicrystalline PLA with 15 wt% of the noted TPU grades are also processed in the TSE at 190°C to investigate the matrix crystallization effect on the morphology and property enhancements. The rheological experiments reveal that the increase in TPU HS content significantly increases the phase compatibility between PLA and TPU as also suggested by the finer morphology of the TPU phase, although the use of lower HS TPUs is more favorable to enhance the ductility and impact properties of the blends.     

Effect of structure development on the rheological properties of PVDF/HNBR-based thermoplastic elastomer and its vulcanizates

The present work demonstrates the structure-rheology relationship of novel polyvinylidene fluoride/hydrogenated nitrile rubber blends with special reference to the effect of mixing time, which has not been amply discussed in the literature. In between 50 and 70 wt% rubber content, a yield in complex viscosity and secondary plateau in storage modulus were discerned due to interconnected droplets-matrix morphology manifesting the thermoplastic elastomeric nature of the blends (TPEs). Such network-like structure altered the rheological properties like relaxation time, capillary viscosity, die swell, elastic responses of the TPE with respect to the trend as expected according to the rule of mixing. Interestingly, in the early stages of mixing, when the dispersed size was bigger, the effect of physical network on the rheological properties was suppressed. During dynamic vulcanization (TPV), both lower and higher frequency responses in oscillatory shear flow, steady shear rheological properties, recoverable strain etc. have changed notably with mixing time. For example, although the complex viscosity of the TPV was higher at a lower frequency as compared to its TPE, it was significantly lower at a higher frequency at the beginning of dynamic curing; however, viscosity increased appreciably with time. Temperature-dependendent rheological properties were also influenced with mixing time of the compositions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48758.     

Effect of clay dispersion on the rheological properties and flammability of polyurethane‐clay nanocomposite elastomers

Polyurethane‐clay nanocomposite elastomers were synthesized using polyol‐clay blends with different levels of dispersion, which affected the final elastomer microstructure. A PU‐clay microcomposite elastomer containing partially dispersed clay showed poorer mechanical and similar fire properties to the unmodified polyurethane. More complete dispersion of the clay into the polyol led to an exfoliated structure in the final elastomer. This showed a higher modulus and kept a viscoelastic behavior to higher temperature than the pristine PU. The enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties in the nanocomposite elastomer can be attributed to the degree of clay exfoliation, and this also prevented dripping during the UL 94 fire test. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Effect of micro-spinel powders addition on the microstructure and properties of alumina refractory castables

The microstructural evolution and comprehensive properties of alumina refractory bonded with calcium aluminate cement and silica sol have been studied. Results have been correlated with the microstructural and phase evolutions using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as function of the pre-formed spinel powders. Matrix samples were obtained for phase and microstructural characterization in details, and the results were compared with those corresponding to the refractory castables. The room temperature and high temperature properties, including permanent of linear change, mechanical properties, hot modulus of rupture (HMOR) and slag resistance were measured. The castables exhibited a microstructural optimization and properties enhancement due to the addition of pre-formed spinel. A lot of secondary spinel and CA₆ (CaO·6Al₂O₃) with small size were produced in the castables, and the contents of micro pores were greatly increased. As a result, the permanent of linear change of castables was decreased by 61%, while cold modulus of rupture (CMOR) and HMOR were increased more than 45% and 100%, respectively. The penetration indexes in the static slag resistance were decreased from 28.8% to 12.2%.     

Effect of ceramic nanoadditive content and type on the rheological properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) spinning solutions

Rheological properties of aqueous PVA solutions within a wide concentration range have been examined to select a concentration at which apparent dynamic viscosity is suitable for fiber spinning from solution by the wet process. The rheological properties of PVA solutions containing various quantities of nanosilica and nanohydroxyapatite were assessed. It has been found that an increase in the quantity of both types of nanoadditives from 1 to 5% brings about a decrease in the value of the rheological parameter n and enhances the polymeric character of the fluid. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009