Mesa propellants

There are plateau propellants that exhibit an intermediate range of pressure over which m is practically independent of p and mesa propellants for which m(p) achieves a maximum at a particular value of p then a minimum at a higher value. These effects may be produced in conventional double-base propellants by suitable addition of burning-rate catalysts (typically certain metal-organic salts) to the propellant formulation. It has been shown experimentally that these catalysts usually operate by modifying the interaction between the condensed-phase and dispersed-phase reaction zones [57], [58]. Thus dispersion phenomena are of importance to the deflagration of homogeneous propellants in a number of ways. 

It was soon realized that platonized propellants, with their reduced temperature sensitivity in the plateau- and mesa-burning range, could be effectively used to minimize the sensitivity of the performance of a rocket to the temperature of the environment. Much work has been devoted to understanding the mechanism of plateau and mesa burning, with a view to optimizing the performance characteristics of rocket motors. 

Fig. 6.21 Definition of super-rate, plateau, and mesa burnings of a catalyzed double-base propellant.

NG and NC-TMETN are not quite the same due to small differences in chemical structure and in the energy levels of the propellants, the burning characteristics of NC-NG and NC-TMETN propellants are broadly similar and the action of the catalysts in terms of producing super-rate, plateau, and mesa burning is the same for both propellants. 

Combination of lead and copper salts of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic adds Extend mesa region compared with lead salts alone in propellants having cal. val. -600-1250calg 1 i.e., both cooler and hotter propellants [238, 239]. 

Rare-earth compounds lanthanum compounds Not only increase burn rate of DB propellants but also exhibit plateau or mesa combustion in the middle or high pressure range [244]. 

Mixture of bismuth and copper salts of hydroxy substituted benzoic acids Produce plateau and mesa burning characteristics in propellants [246]. 

Ranier J.M. Swotinsky, Development of a Medium Burning Rate (0.45m/sec) Mesa-Type Rocket Propellant - T-19 Propellant , PATR 1992 (1954) 3) B.J. Kondrot, Investigation... 

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