Research Projects

PERFORMANCE OF SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS WITH NANOPARTICLE ADDITIVES

Faculty Mentors: Profs. Eric L. Petersen and Sudipta Seal

Research Description

Because of their high density and reliability, rocket motors based on Ammonium Perchlorate/Aluminum/HTPB (AP/Al/HTPB) continue to be of interest to the space program and the military. It has been shown in recent studies that organometallic and metallic powders such as titania produce favorable characteristics in the propellant mixture that make it more stable, modify its burn rate, or otherwise influence its reaction. We feel that nanoparticles of pure and varying composition may have additional impacts on propellants. The proposed research involves mixing and testing heterogeneous propellant samples with added nano- and micron-sized organometallics. The infrastructure for making composite propellant mixtures and testing them at elevated pressures has recently become available at UCF, and the work herein will merge with and enhance the combustion chemistry, advanced experimental techniques, and heterogeneous combustion efforts currently underway. The REU student will work directly with the PI's and the research assistants on this ongoing research project; in doing so, the student will learn how heterogeneous solid propellants are mixed in the laboratory and will conduct research into the effect of certain nanoparticles on AP/Al/HTPB mixtures.

The undergraduates will be involved in:

• How to make nanoparticles.
• How to characterize nanostructures.
• How to make fuel additives.
• Study the combustion dynamics.