LOW TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY ROCKET PROPELLANT

Abstract

The purpose of this effort is to develop propellants with reduced oxygen balance and low molecular weight. This is to achieve increased performance results as well as low temperature and pressure sensitivity characteristics. Theoretical estimates of heat formation for these molecules were made and propellant performances were calculated. In these materials, as the oxygen balance was decreased, a lower temperature sensitivity could be achieved as well as a higher specific impulse and an increase in the drop height. The propellant should have a high but steady burn rate that exhibits low-pressure and temperature sensitivity. The main objective of this study is to characterize and evaluate a new energetic plasticizer. This will be comprised of a eutectic mixture of linear dinitrodiazaalkanes energetic materials, named as DNDA-57. This will consist of numerous chemical and thermal characterization, including safe handling and small scale sensitivity testing. This paper will discuss the DNDA-57 material evaluation at a preliminary level.