An experimental investigation of strand burning metallized solid propellants

Abstract

Characteristics of the products of combustion of metallized solid propellant strands at pressures between 250 and 750 psi were investigated using holography and light scattering measurements. In addition, scanning electron microscope and light scattering measurements were used to examine guenched residue. A reduced smoke ZrC propellant and three propellants of varying aluminum loading (2%, 4.8%, and 16%) were examined. The objective of the experiments was to provide sufficient particle data from strand burners to make it possible to determine if any correlation of results from this method of analysis could be made with results from other more complex solid propellant motor measurements, such as plume probe and signature measurements. The results of these efforts reflected the inability of any single technigue of analysis to completely describe particle size distributions. These results also suggest the need for modificaton of current experimental apparatus and procedures.