Formulation Factors and Properties of Condensed Combustion Products

A review of state-of-the-art experimental results concerning the influence of various formulation factors on the properties of the condensed combustion products (agglomerates and smoke oxide particles) formed at the burning propellant surface is provided. The influence of the properties of binder, oxidizer, and metal fuel is investigated. Analysis is carried out with reference to the following components: active and inactive binder, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate (pure and phase stabilized), ammonium dinitramide, cyclotrimethylenetetranitramine, micro-sized and nano-sized aluminum, aluminum with a polymeric, and refractory covering. The proposed analysis is based on the formulated general physical picture of the formation of the condensed products. It is shown that the properties of the condensed products (in terms of size, chemical composition, and internal structure) depend on properties of the burning propellant surface layer, which in turn depend on the properties of the propellant components. The importance of formation of a surface layer and the properties of such structures as a skeleton layer is underlined. The results of these research activities open the possibility to take reasonable formulation decisions when creating new solid propellants.