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) |