1 research outputs found
Reaction Dynamics of Rocket Propellant with Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles
The combustion behavior of rocket
propellant grade 2 (RP-2) was
investigated as a function of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles
(i.e., 20 nm diameter) added at varied concentrations. The MgO nanoparticles
were surface-treated with a long-chain carboxylic acid to aid their
dispersion in RP-2. The fuel droplet regression rate, surface tension,
and heat of combustion of RP-2 with MgO nanoparticle additives were
measured to characterize combustion behavior. Heat of combustion and
surface tension measurements varied negligibly among all samples indicating
that calorific output and surface tension are not controlling parameters
influencing fuel combustion behavior. However, fuel droplet regression
rates were considerably increased by adding 0.5 wt % MgO from 0.225
to 66.16 mm/s, which is an improvement by 2 orders of magnitude. Further
analysis showed that MgO particles enhance diffusive heat transfer,
which promotes nucleation and disruptive burning throughout the three
stages of regression, heating/evaporation (stage 1), combustion of
RP-2 (stage 2), and combustion of carboxylic acid dispersant (stage
3), and, thus, lead to improved fuel droplet combustion