Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Faculty of Science, Emam Ali University, Tehran, Iran

3 Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In this work, nanoparticles of the metal fuel Zirconium (Zr) and nanoscale oxidizer BaCrO4 are synthesized considering their unique nanoparticle characteristics like mixing homogeneity and high surface/volume ratio. Using the synthesized fuel and oxidizer, the pyrotechnic mixture of Zr/BaCrO4 was developed under 4 different conditions and analyzed in terms of the thermal behavior and burning rate. In the synthesis stage, the oxidizer nanopowder BaCrO4 was developed through precipitating Barium Nitrate and Chromate Potassium in the vicinity of Dodecyl benzene sulfonate sodium (DBSS) stabilizer. Also, Zr nanopowder was prepared using direct reduction of Zr (NO3)2 by N2H2 and was coated by a 4% Collodion. Then, the pyrotechnic mixture Zr/BaCrO4 was charged and pressed in the constructed combustion chamber. The burning rate of the mixture was captured by the direct footage of the combustion process using digital cameras with 60 frame-per-second capabilities. The fastest burning occurs when both the fuel and the oxidizer are nano-scaled. The thermal behavior of the mixture was studied using the simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) machine within the temperature range of 25 to 1000 °C. Results of the thermal analysis show that the thermal decomposition temperature of the Zr/BaCrO4 mixture in the micron size is higher than in the nano size and the amount of destruction is lower. Increasing the concentration of zirconium in the nano-size from 10 to 50% leads to a decrease in the decomposition temperature from 565 to 437 °C, while the pyrotechnic mixture destruction rate increases from 39% to over 63%.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  • Meda, L., Marra, G., Galfetti, L. and Inchingalo, s., “Nano-composites for rocket solid propellants”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 65, 769 (2005).
  • Ociardha, C. T., Frawley, P. J. and Mitchell, N. A., “Estimation of the nucleation kinetics for the anti-solvent crystallisation of paracetamol in methanol/water solutions”, Cryst. Growth., 328, 50 (2011).
  • Sun, Y. and Li, S., “Combustion characteristics of coated nano aluminum in composite propellants”, Def. Sci. J., 56, 543 (2004).
  • Xia, Y., Zhao, J., Dong, Z., Guo, X., Tian, Q., Zhang, S. and Liu, Y., “Two-step gradient reduction of zirconia for making high-purity zirconium powder”, JOM., 72, 1687 (2020).
  • Pouretedal, H.R., Shahmoradi, M., Zareh, A. and Sattar, S., “The catalytic effect of Ag/CNTs nanocomposite on the ignition reaction of Mg/KNO3 pyrotechnic by determination of the kinetic triplet”, Therm. Anal. Calorim., 30,135 (2019).
  • McCauley, J. W. and Puszynski, J. A., “Historical perspective and contribution of US researchers into the field of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS)/combustion synthesis (CS): Personal reflections”, Int. J. Self-Propag. High-Temp. S., 17, 58 (2008).
  • Nazari, M., Simiari, M., Omidi, R., Rezaei, M. and Ovaysi, S., “Synthesis and characterization of zr nanoparticles and investigation of the effect of ball mill on particle size distribution”, Metall. Eng., 24(3), 228 (2023).
  • Ebrahimzadeh, S.J. and Ziarati, M., “Preparation and evaluation of pyrotechnic mixture containing Fe2O3/Zr delay composition”, J. Energ. Mater., 15,47–52 (2020)
  • Liu, J. K., Wu, Q. S., Ding, Y. P. and Yi, Y., “Assembling synthesis of barium chromate nano-superstructures using eggshell membrane as template”, Bull. Korean. Chem. Soc., 25, 1775 (2004).
  • Lycas, J., Engineering design handbook—explosives series: explosive trains (AMCP 706-179), Mater., Command., Washington, USA, p. G2-3 (1974).
  • Kroll, W. J., Schlechten, A. W., Carmody, W. R. and Yerkes, L. A., “Ductil zirconium from zircon sand”, Trans. Electrochem. Soc., 89, 263 (1946).
  • Kroll, W. J., Schlechten, A. W., Carmody, W. R., Yerkes, L. A., Holmes, H. P. and Gilbert H. L., “Recent progress in the metallurgy of malleable zirconium”, Trans. Electrochem., Soc. 92, 99 (1947).
  • Abdelkader, A. M. and El-Kashif,, “Calciothermic reduction of zirconium oxide in molten CaCl2”, ISIJ. Int., 47, 25 (2007).
  • Park, K. T., Nersisyan, H. H., Chun, B. S. and Lee, J. H., “Preparation of porous zirconium microspheres by magnesiothermic reduction and their microstructural characteristics”, J. Mater. Res., 26, 2117 (2011).
  • Eshed, M., Pol, S., Gedanken, A. and Balasubramanian, M., “Zirconium nanoparticles prepared by the reduction of zirconium oxide using the RAPET method”, Beilstein. J. Nanotechnol., 2, 198 (2011).
  • Kuwahara, T. and Tohara, C., “Ignition characteristics of Zr/BaCrO4, pyrolant”,
    Propellants. Explos. Pyrotech., 27, 284 (2002).
  • Kuwahara, T., Kohno, T. and Wang, C. H., “Static electric sensitivity characteristics of Zr/BaCrO4 pyrolants”, J. Propellants. Explos. Pyrotech., 29, 56 (2004).
  • Kohsari, I. and Hajimirsadeghi, S. S., “Application of the Taguchi Method for Optimization Experimental Condition of Synthesized Barium Chromate Nanoparticles by a Precipitation Method, Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic”, Inorg. Nano-Met. Chem., 41, 465 (2011).
  • Takeno, N., “Atlas of Eh-pH Diagrams”, Natl. I. Adv. Industrial Sci. Technol., 419, 102 (2005).
  • Aziz, A., Mamat, R. and Ali, WW., “Development of strand burner for solid propellant burning rate studies”, InIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering., 50, 1 (2013).

[21] Nakka, R., Effect of chamber pressure on burning rate for the potassium nitrate-dextrose and potassium nitrate-sorbitol rocket propellants. http://www.nakka-rocketry.net/soft/ds_burn.pdf (1991)