Accession Number:

AD0652617

Title:

ROLE OF CONDENSED-PHASE REACTIONS IN IGNITION AND DEFLAGRATION OF AMMONIUM PERCHLORATE PROPELLANTS

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

STANFORD RESEARCH INST MENLO PARK CA CHEMICAL DYNAMICS DEPT

Personal Author(s):

• Wise, Henry
• Inami, S. H.
• McCulley, Leonard

Report Date:

1967-05-12

Pagination or Media Count:

24.0

Abstract:

The contribution of exothermic, condensed-phase reactions to ignition and deflagration of propellants is examined. Measurements of the rates of heat release, thermal diffusivity, burning rate and ignition are combined to demonstrate the role of reactions in propellants made up of powdered ammonium perchlorate and catalysts. By means of a theoretical analysis, it is found that for the propellants under study a thermal runaway in the condensed phase can account for the ignition phenomena observed. Also, at low steady-state deflagration rates the contribution of the solid-phase reactions can be demonstrated. Some of the propellants quenched during deflagration have shown the existence of a subsurface layer, which is located in a zone at which the temperature has reached the level characteristic of the crystal transition of ammonium perchlorate.

Descriptors:

• *AMMONIUM PERCHLORATE
• *DEFLAGRATION
• *IGNITION
• *SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS
• BURNING RATE
• CALORIMETRY
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS
• INTERFACES
• SOLID ROCKET OXIDIZERS
• SURFACE TEMPERATURE
• THERMAL DIFFUSION
• THERMOCHEMISTRY

Subject Categories:

• Combustion and Ignition
• Solid Rocket Propellants

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE