Comparative studies of pressure sensitization of zirconium carbide and zirconium silicate on burning rates in a RDX-AP based composite propellant

Abstract

In a systematic study to compare the effects of the values of burning rate and pressure exponent in RDX-AP based composite propellant, various compositions with varying percentages of zirconium carbide (ZrC) and zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) were formulated to select a suitable candidate. Various rocket parameters of each formulation were theoretically predicted by the NASA CEC-71 program and the burning rate was evaluated in pressure range of 3-11 MPa. In addition, density, sensitivity, and thermal properties of compositions having maximum effects on pressure exponent's values were also evaluated. It was concluded that ZrSiO4 enhances the pressure exponent "n" value substantially, whereas ZrC doesn't have significant effects on it as compared to base composition and also provides higher density values of composite propellant formulated. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.