Composite Propellants
Composite propellants are heterogeneous mixtures of fuels and small particulate oxidizers, held together by a highly viscous binder.
Composite propellants are typically used as solid propellant for rocket systems, kick motors for satellites and booster motors for launching cruise missiles.
| Propellant Ingredient (click for spec sheet) | Function | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Powder | Fuel | MIL-A-82728 (OS) |
| Ammonium Perchlorate NH4ClO4; available in 90, 200 and 400 micron particle size (customizable) Mixed with a binder compound and fuels such as powdered Aluminum, Ammonium Perchlorate can generate self-sustained combustion at much below atmospheric pressure, making it an ideal propellant for rockets and missiles. | Oxidizing Component | MIL-A-192B MIL-A-82667/2 (OS) MIL-A-82667/1 (OS) MIL-A-23946 (WEP) MIL-A-23948 (AS) |
| Butacene | Binder | |
| Carboxyl Terminated Polybutadiene Linear (CTPB) CTPB, a form of synthetic rubber, is one of the best synthetic rubbers used as a binder for composite propellants. | Binder (synthetic) | MIL-PRF-23942A (AS) |
| Catocene (2,2-Bis-Ethylferrocenyl Propane) | Catalyst (iron-based; >1 inch/sec burn rate) | |
| Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Adipate (DEHA) | Plasticizer | DOD-D-23443B |
| Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Sebacate | Plasticizer | MIL-D-10692 |
| Dimeryl Diisocyanate (DDI) Dimeryl Diisocyanate (DDI-1510) is the preferred curative in low- molecular weight HTPB polymer rocket propellant formulations. This high-molecular weight isocyanate is based on a 36-carbon aliphatic backbone possessing low toxicity and low water sensitivity. Also functions as a burn rate catalyst. | Curing agent | MIL-C-85498 (AS) Type I MIL-D-82675 (OS) |
| Dioctyl Adipate | Plasticizer | MIL-D-85494 |
| Dioctyl Phthalate | Plasticizer | MIL-D-38705 |
| Dioctyl Sebacate (DOS) | Plasticizer | CAS: 122-62-3 |
| Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) HTPB is an excellent binder for solid rocket fuels, providing a solid but elastic fuel mass. It is also used as a hybrid rocket fuel in conjunction with Nitrous Oxide (N2O). HTPB R-45M is the highest-grade binder for military applications, providing low-temperature flexibility, excellent adhesion to metal and excellent dispersion of fillers. | Binder (synthetic) | MIL-H-85497 |
| Isodecyl Pelargonate | Plasticizer | AS 2328 |
| Isophorone Diisocyanate (IPDI) | Curing agent | MIL-C-85498 (AS) Type II WS-16305C |
| Isophthaloyl bis(2-methylaziridine) (DIB-752) | Binder | |
| Neutral polymeric bonding agent (NPBA) | Binder | |
| Polybutadiene Acrylonitrile (PBAN) | Binder | |
| Triphenyl Bismuth | Cure catalyst, bonding and accelerating agent | MIL-T-82825 MIL-T-70681 WS-20883 |
| Bonding Agent | Funtion | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| 1,1'-Isophthaloyl Bis[2-Methylaziridine | Bonding agent for Ammonium Perchlorate in polybutadiene matrices (752) | |
| MAPO (tris[1-(2-methyl) aziridinyl] phosphine oxide) | Curing agent for CTPB pre-polymers and a bonding agent for HTPB pre-polymers. | DOD-T-82666A |
| Neutral Polymeric Bonding Agents (NPBA) | Bonding agent for composite rocket propellants | |
| TEPAN (Tetra-ethylenepentamine acrylnitrile) | Bonding agent | |
| TEPANOL (Tetra-ethylenepentamine acrylnitrile glycidol) | Liquid bonding agent and curative (878) | MIL-T-82824 |
| Trimesol-1(2 ethyl) aziridine | Trifunctional aziridine amide curing agent (868) |
