Nanomaterials in Rocket Propulsion Systems

Qi-Long Yan, Guo-Qiang He, Pei-Jin Liu, Michael Gozin, Qi-Long Yan, Guo-Qiang He, Pei-Jin Liu, Michael Gozin

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780128139097
• Topic: Naturwissenschaften
• Subtopic: Nanowissenschaft

Nanomaterials in Rocket Propulsion Systems covers the fundamentals of nanomaterials and examines a wide range of innovative applications, presenting the current state-of-the-art in the field. Opening with a chapter on nano-sized energetic materials, the book examines metal nanoparticles-based fuels, ballistic modifiers, stabilizers and catalysts as the components of rocket propellants. Hydrogen storage materials for rocket propulsion based on nanotubes are then discussed, as are nano-porous materials and metal organic frameworks, nano-gelled propellants, nano-composite ablators and ceramic nano-composites. Other applications examined include high thermal conductivity metallic nano-composite nozzle liners, nano-emitters for Coulomb propulsion of space-crafts, and highly thermostable nano-ceramics for rocket motors.

The book finishes with coverage of combustion of nano-sized rocket fuels, nano-particles and their combustion in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), plasma propulsion and nano-scale physics. Users will find this to be a valuable resource for academic and government institutions, professionals, new researchers and graduate students working in the application of nanomaterials in the aerospace industry.

• Provides a detailed overview of different types of nanomaterials used in rocket propulsion, highlighting different situations in which different materials are used
• Demonstrates the use of new nanomaterial concepts, allowing for an increase in payload capacity or a decrease in launch mass
• Explores a range of applications using metal nanopowders, presenting a panorama on cutting-edge, technological developments

Part 1

Nanomaterials in Rocket Fuels

Outline

Chapter 1. The Prospects of Using Nanoenergetic Materials in Solid Rocket Propulsion

Chapter 2. Review on Nanoexplosive Materials

Chapter 3. Insensitive Energetic Materials Containing Two-Dimensional Nanostructures as Building Blocks

Chapter 4. Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Superthermites in Solid Propellant

Chapter 5. Aluminum Powders for Energetics: Properties and Oxidation Behavior

Chapter 1

The Prospects of Using Nanoenergetic Materials in Solid Rocket Propulsion

Vladimir E. Zarko^{1,2 1}Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Novosibirsk, Russia ²Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia

Abstract

Nanoenergetic materials became available during last three decades and offer a promise of much higher energy densities and faster rate of energy release than conventional explosives and solid propellants. The energy densities in nanoenergetic devices can reach 50 MJ/kg. Extremely fast burning rates exceeding 3 km/s can be realized in the combustion of porous silicon nanoenergetic composites. The chapter presents a brief review of novel achievements in studying the reaction mechanisms of nanoenergetic materials. This knowledge would allow the creation of molecularly manipulated energetic substances and formulations with well-tailored chemical and physical properties.

Keywords

Bottom-up approach; Combustion; Explosive; Nanoenergetic material; Nanostructured; Propellant; Propulsion; Solid rocket

Chapter Outline

1. Introduction

2. Nanometals in Solid Propellants

3. Nano-Oxidizers

4. Mechanisms of Nanothermite Reaction

5. Nano-Explosives

6. Experimental Methods for Characterization of Nanoenergetic Systems

7. Concluding Remarks

Acknowledgments

References

1. Introduction

Nanostructured energetic materials are those that are characterized by the nanoscale in at least one dimension. Thus these might not only be round-shaped particles but also different kinds of foils, flakes, etc. The “nano” concept, which includes nanoscience and nanotechnology, was introduced in the middle of the 20th century. In 1959 the Noble Prize winner R. Feynman stated in his lecture in CalTech, Pasadena: “But I am not afraid to consider the final question as to whether, ultimately—in the great future—we can arrange the atoms the way we want; the very atoms, all the way down! In the year 2000, when they (researchers) look back at this age, they will wonder why it was not until the year 1960 that anybody began seriously to move in this direction” [1].

In fact, the definition of nanomaterials is somewhat arbitrary and can be based on different criteria. First of all it involves the scaling measure and usually corresponds to submicron sizes. In various fields of science and technology, different subdivisions of length are used to define coarse and fine particles. Formally, 100 nm is accepted as a boundary between ultrafine and nanosized particles. However, one may define this boundary as corresponding to sharply changing the physical properties, e.g., melting temperature. Such a boundary depends on the nature of the substance, and for Al it is about 15 nm, for Au 50 nm, etc. It is a consequence of the classical Gibbs–Thomson equation where the surface energy term shifts the balance of the free energies of the crystalline and molten state that results in melting temperature depression.

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