Inclusion of nanostructured materials in composite and double base propellant

Two methods for including nanostructured reactive materials in composite and double base propellant systems were investigated. Initially, a multiscale computational model for determining the dispersion state of nanoparticles in various polymer bases was developed using molecular and dissipative particle dynamics. Systems of nanosize aluminum, boron, and copper (II) oxide were prepared in hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and examined using a variety of techniques to parameterize the model. The results of modeling and experiments showed that increasing nanoparticle concentrations tend to increase agglomerate size and quantity. In parallel, nanoscale reactive intermetallic-forming compounds were investigated as additives to increase propellant performance and burning rate. The nanoscale reactive material raised the burning rate temperature prefactor while simultaneously radically altering the agglomerate structure, providing tantalizing evidence for potential future performance gains.