1. Solid Rocket Propellant Research
Linda Kelly
John Marshall HS-Northside ISD
Faculty Mentor- Eric Petersen, Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
Texas A&M University

2. Solid Propellant Research Applications
Rocket Fuel
Offshore Drilling
Deploy Air Bags

3. Solid Propellant Research Rocket Power = Combustion Rx
NH4ClO4 = oxidizer
Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene hydrocabon chain = binder and fuel
Isophorone Diisocyanate = curing agent
additives

4. Solid Propellant Research Summary of methods
The substances are mixed under vacuum to remove gaseous contaminants.

5. Solid Propellant Research Summary of methods
The mixed substances are extruded under vacuum into Teflon tubing, cured, and cut into 1-inch pieces.

6. Solid Propellant Research Testing
Samples are mounted in the high-pressure strand burner

7. Solid Propellant Research Testing
Ignition and data collection are done remotely

8. Propellant Testing
Video Stills from a Propellant Test

9. Analysis
Determining Burning Rate
Burning Rate DX
r = Dt Dt DX

10. Tailor Burning Rate to Application Objective
Motivation
Tailor Burning Rate to Application Objective
Develop Baseline Propellant of AP and Binder
Utilize Additives to Modify Combustion n n
r = aP
r = aP
Baseline
Baseline

11. Solid Propellant Research Overview of procedureAP
crystals +
HC fuel…
made
into
propellant
samples
ignited
data
collected
&
analyzed
Where
do I
fit?

12. Solid Propellant Research Background data
Variety of crystal sizes in AP

13. Solid Propellant Research Background data
Different types of
burning achieved
with various sizes
of particles

14. Solid Rocket Propellant My project
Attain crystal images with microscopy and digital photography
Enhance images with Photoshop
Size crystals with IQMaterials software
Analyze data with Excel
Standardize the procedure for the size distribution in a sample of NH4ClO4 started by Matthew Janish

15. Solid Propellant Research My project--the beginning

16. Solid Propellant Research Burning questions
How is AP synthesized?
What is the crystalline structure—it’s not cubic, monoclinic, orthorhombic… that other crystals are?
How does this supply of AP compare with previous data?

17. Solid Propellant Research Classroom activity
Task: determine the mathematical attributes and size distribution of a sample of rocket propellant
Given samples, students determine mass, volume, density, surface area, perimeter, size distribution
Use appropriate units, show sample calculations, graph distribution of particles
TEKS: Chemistry 1,2,3 Physics 1,2,3ACD

18. Solid Propellant Research Special Thanks
Dr. Eric Petersen
Kevin Kreitz
Tom Sammet
Tyler Allen
Nicole, Will, Jonas, Nolan, Madeleine, Sean
NSF
A&M partners

19. Solid Propellant Research Resources
Graph of burn rate and diameters from Jeppson, M.B., Beckstead M.W., Jing, Q., “A Kinetic model for the Premixed Combustion of a Fine AP/HTPB Composite Propellant,” 36th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 1998, AIAA Paper
Images and information from Kevin Kreitz presentation, May 27, 2009
Images from Microsoft Office clipart
Image of crystals by Matthew Janish; Ammonium Perchlorate Particle Sizing, August, 2007

20. That’s rocket science.