Design and Combustion Behaviour of Explosive Coordination Compounds.

Explosive coordinationcompoundsare a subject of considerableinterest becausesome of them have found specific applications, in particular, as safe primary explosives or igniters. The present work focuses on general principles of designing explosive coordination compounds. Effect of the complex molecule's constituents on explosive and physicochemical properties is considered. The main classes of organic compoundswhich might be used as ligands of explosive complexes are discussed. Since the burning rate of an explosive compound is thought to he an important characteristic determining such properties as deflagration-to-detonation transition and initiating efficiency, the work deals with studying the relationship between chemical structure and burning rate characteristics of explosive complexes. The burning rate of optimal1y designed coordination compound depends mainly on two factors: nature of oxidizers and nature of the central metal atom. Changeover from nitrate ion to perchlorate one usual1yraises the burning rate by a factor of 10 and more. Metal atom included in complexes can serve not only as a matrix, whichties up ligand-fuel and anion-oxidizer, but also as a catalyst of redox reactions occurring during combustion. It is found that each anion-oxidizer has its own set of metals that possess a catalytic activity. In the light of the experimental findings, a plausible combustion mechanism of coordination compounds has been suggested

Solid Propellants Based on AN/AP Co-Crystal for Green Space Access

Ammonium Nitrate, an inorganic solid oxidizer already used in rocket propulsion decades ago, produces environmentally friendly combustion products. It is a very cheap energetic material, but its specific impulse is low compared with that of Ammonium Perchlorate - based propellants. To solve the problems of low ballistic performance of raw AN compositions, Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate was investigated. To overcome the difficulties of low pressure burning, AN and AP co-crystals were also tested

Dual-Oxidizer Metallized Solid Propellants for Low-Cost Space Access

Owing to technology maturity, simplicity, and reliability, in the near future (2010-2020) solid rocket propulsion will continue to play a main role in the development of Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs), both as first stages of heavy launchers and main stages of small/medium launchers. In this context, a co-operation was started between Avio and Politecnico di Milano addressed to the study of Ammonium Nitrate - based composite solid rocket propellant combustion. Ammonium Nitrate is a very cheap oxidizer, producing environmentally friendly combustion products but with a low specific impulse compared to Ammonium Perchlorate. To improve the thermal response of raw AN, different types of Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate were investigated. For a better ballistic behavior of AN-based propellants, compositions including ballistic modifiers and metallic additions were tested. To extend the low pressure burning of AN-based propellants, possible use of AN and AP co-crystals was also checked The objective is to identify an optimum AN+AP dual oxidizer system and understand its basic combustion properties in view of possible space propulsion applications