Awards

Japan Explosives Society Technology Award 2024

Study on the suppression of aluminum particle agglomeration on the combustion surface of composite propellants

　Dr. Kotaro Matsumoto is conducting experimental research aimed at enhancing the performance of solid rocket motors.
　This paper describes a unique optical measurement system that visualizes the vicinity of the combustion surface of solid propellant in order to reduce the agglomerated particle size of Al particles. This system was used to observe the aggregation and agglomeration process of Al particles and to investigate the effect of Mg-Al particles on reducing the agglomerated particle size. In solid rocket motors, whether agglomerated Al particles in the combustion chamber complete combustion greatly affects the performance of the motor. Aggregated Al particles become several times to 10 times larger than their initial particle size and burn incompletely in the combustion chamber, sometimes being discharged from the nozzle, which reduces propulsion performance. The control of Al particle aggregation and agglomeration in solid rocket motors is therefore an important issue. In this paper, Mg-Al particles are added to solid propellant to solve this problem, and the effect is evaluated.
　This paper presents the results of detailed observations of the behavior of Al and Mg-Al particles on the combustion surface of a solid propellant by photographing the combustion surface using an optical visualization device incorporating a pulsed laser into a chimney-type stranded burner. As a result, it was found that Al particles aggregated around AP particles on the combustion surface. It was clarified that Mg-Al particles suppress this aggregation process and inhibit the aggregation of Al particles. These research results are important for solid propellants and contribute to the operation of solid rockets in space transportation.
　Consequently, this work has greatly contributed to Japan Explosive Society, and is worthy of the Japan Explosives Society Technology Award.

Recommended Papers

1. Visualization of aluminum agglomeration in metallized composite solid propellants, Sci. Technol. Energ. Mater., Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 46-52 (2024)

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