Ann Wright, Warfield Teague M. Keith Hudson, Andrew Wright, Patrick Foley
Abstract: Guanidinium azo-tetrazolate (GAT) is an organic salt with a high percentage of nitrogen. GAT was mixed with the standard hybrid rocket fuel, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), in concentrations of 15% and 25% by mass. The fuel grains with the GAT additive were fired for 4 seconds with oxygen flows of 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10 lbm s−1. Physical characteristics of the rocket were measured while firing the GAT fuels. Thrust, internal pressure, fuel mass consumed, oxygen fl ow rate, nozzle throat diameter, and fuel port radius were measured. Fuel regression rate, specifi c impulse, total impulse, and average thrust were calculated from the data. GAT was found to increase the thrust output when added to the standard hybrid rocket fuel, HTPB. 25% GAT fuel produced approximately the same thrust as the 15% GAT fuel. Specifi c impulse was slightly lower with both 15% and 25% GAT fuels than with plain HTPB fuel. Standard deviation of thrust was used as a crude measure of amplitude of oscillations during combustion. GAT-added fuels showed a very small decrease in thrust oscillation amplitude.
Keywords: GAT, rocket, additive, motor
Ref: JPyro, Issue 22, 2005,pp44-51
(J22_44)
© Journal of Pyrotechnics and CarnDu Ltd
