Abstract:
Effect of carbon additives on burning rate of model composite propellants is studied. Paste-like propellant compositions are used, which are an analog of composite solid fuel with an uncured binder. The role of nanocarbon additives is played by different substances: detonation nanodiamond (DND), which is sometimes heat-treated or crushed to a size of 4 nm, multilayer carbon nanotubes, soot, activated carbon, graphite, adamantane, and graphene. Among all the allotropic forms of carbon, the maximum increment of the burning rate (23%) is ensured by an additive of 2% DND with 2% plasticizer (by weight). At the same time, the combustion product temperature decreases by $\approx$ 200$^{\circ}$C, thereby reducing the probability of rocket engine burnout.
