Burning rate measurement of KNSu propellant obtained by mechanical press

Abstract

The potassium nitrate (KNO3)/sucrose (C12H22O11) propellant, known as KNSu, is traditionally used in rocket studies by amateur groups. Performance tests of KNSu, whose composition is 65 wt% KNO3 and 35 wt% C12H22O11, cold-manufactured by mechanical press, are presented in this paper. The study determines the behaviour of density (ρ) and burning rate (r) as function of compression pressure (Pc) for the propellant grain manufacturing. Forty-four samples were prepared and tested, for seven different values of Pc. It was observed that ρ and r depend on Pc, according to quadratic polynomial functions, and the mass flux per unit area is a constant.