Application of Nano-Sized RDX in CMDB Propellant with High Solid Content

Compared to the ordinary RDX, nano-sized RDX has many more excellent properties. Therefore two kinds of CMDB propellant were prepared for comparison. One is the normal CMDB propellant called M-CMDB propellant, the other is N-CMDB propellant which adds nano-sized RDX to CMDB propellant. The morphology characterization, tensile properties, sensitivity, and combustion performance of the propellants were investigated, the results for N-CMDB propellant were compared with that for the normal one. It has been found that the interface of N-CMDB propellant showed no stratification and fewer overall defects than the normal one. The value of sigma(m) and epsilon(m) for N-CMDB propellant are increased by 32.6 % and 25.2 % at 323.15 K, respectively. At 293.15 K, the sigma(m) and epsilon(m) values of N-CMDB propellant also increased by 25.4 % and 46.9 % and increased by 17.5 % and 23.7 %, respectively, at 233.15 K. The friction and impact sensitivities of N-CMDB propellant are decreased by 51.3 % and 50.4 %, respectively. The TG/DSC study indicated that, compared with M-CMDB propellant, the thermal decomposition peak temperature of N-CMDB propellant is advanced, and the apparent activation energy is reduced by about 6.0 % to 144.3 kJ . mol(-1). Combustion performance measurements were carried out. It was observed that nano-sized RDX is a good burning rate enhancer, because of the burning rate coefficient value of N-CMDB propellant is relatedly increased by 36.9 %. Besides, the pressure exponent of N-CMDB propellant is relatively decreased by 21.6 %. All the results indicate that the application of nano-sized RDX will help to improve the comprehensive performance of CMDB propellant.