| An experimental investigation into the effects of the energetic binders BAMO-THF and NMMO on sandwich burning has been conducted. Two-dimensional sandwich models of a composite propellant consisting of a layer of binder "sandwiched" between two slabs of ammonium perchlorate were employed. Comparable tests using BAMO-THF and NMMO (energetic binders) and PBAN (standard inert binder) were carried out and the effects of three catalysts (Fe{dollar}sb2{dollar}O{dollar}sb3{dollar},Fe{dollar}sb3{dollar}O{dollar}sb4{dollar} and catocene) added to the binder were studied. The amount of modifier added was sustained in percentages encountered in real propellant mixtures. Prior work on the burning of uncatalyzed and catalyzed binder sandwiches was reviewed.; Combustion photography was used for the measurement of the sample's burning rate and to extract information on the combustion zone regarding color, particle concentration, smoke, binder melt. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were employed to provide information on the surface details, color, residual accumulation, binder and/or oxidizer protrusion of the quenched sandwich's surface. Both combustion photography and microscopy were helpful in sketching the surface profiles of the samples at different pressures for several binder thicknesses.; The burning rates for uncatalyzed and catalyzed binder sandwiches were plotted as a function of binder lamina thickness and of test pressure. The effectiveness of each catalyst was measured at each test condition.; In the present study the qualitative theory of flame complex described earlier for the PBAN binder was applied and extended for the case of new energetic binders and postulates were developed and proposed for the action of the iron based catalysts introduced in the binder lamina.; This new expanded flame theory was able to qualitatively predict burning rate trends, surface profiles and flame structure based on ingredient properties related to combustion, thermochemistry of the Oxidizer/Binder system, pressure changes and binder lamina thickness variations. |
