Solid propellant rocket motor having self-extinguishing propellant grain and systems therefrom

US8336287B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• University of Central Florida Research Foundation · US

Inventors

• Eric Petersen · Orlando, US
• Sudipta Seal · Oviedo, US
• Matthew Stephens · Elkton, US
• David L. Reid · Richardson, US
• Rodolphe Carro · Melbourne, US
• Thomas Sammet · Orlando, US
• Alex Lepage · Oviedo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 27, 2009
• Grant date: Dec 25, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 19, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C06B45/10
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A solid rocket motor includes a combustion chamber bounded by an outer casing, a propellant grain within the combustion chamber, and an igniter within the outer casing for igniting the propellant grain. A nozzle is coupled to the combustion chamber for releasing hot gasses evolved from burning the propellant grain to provide thrust for propelling the solid rocket motor. The propellant grain is a self-extinguishing propellant grain that includes at least one fuel, at least one oxidizing agent, at least one binder, and at least one surfactant that imparts the self-extinguishing property. The propellant grain provides a burning rate as a function of pressure that includes a negative pressure dependence portion, wherein the burning rate in the negative pressure dependence portion decreases with increasing pressure until a cutoff pressure is reached which results in extinguishment of the propellant grain.