Propellants Explosives Pyrotechnics, Vol.23, No.2, 90-93, 1998
Realization of an eco-friendly solid propellant based on HTPB-HMX-AP system for launch vehicle applications
An eco-friendly higher solid loaded HTPB propellant with improved energetics has been realized in small scale by incorporating 10-20% by weight of a high energy material namely, HMX. This propellant with 88% solid loading has given good processability, mechanical properties and reduced pressure index. Pollution due to HCl smoke in the rocket exhaust is reduced by 20 to 30% by weight. This propellant is expected to give a vacuum specific impulse of 293 seconds at an operating pressure of 70 bar and an area ratio of 10. Sub-scale motors of 2 kg size have been successfully static tested to evaluate the performance.