Catalyzed AP Composite Propellants

Fig. 7.27 Burning rates of LiF-catalyzed AP composite propellants, showing that the burning rate decreases and the pressure of self-inter-mption increases with increasing concentration of LiF.

Fig. 7.28 Temperature gradients in the gas phase just above the burning surfaces of non-catalyzed and 0.5% LiF-catalyzed AP composite propellants.

Figure 7-10. Burning rate of an n-HC catalyzed AP composite propellants showing that the burning rate is increased drastically but the pressure exponent remains unchanged by the addition of the catalyst.

Thus it is not copper chromate which acts directly as a catalyst but it first gets converted to CuO or Cu20 which actually catalyzes the reaction [263]. Rastogi et al. have reported that CaC03 is a better catalyst in comparison to CuO in PS/AP composite propellants [264]. 

Figure 7-7. Burning rate and temperature sensitivity of catalyzed AP-HTPB composite propellant with BEFP composed of fine or coarse AP particles.

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