초록 ▼

The present invention is a propellant composition comprising from about 2 percent to about 46 percent, by weight, boron particles having a diameter of less than about 500 nanometers. Liquid or gel embodiments of the invention may also include adding the boron particles to a liquid fuel in order to f

The present invention is a propellant composition comprising from about 2 percent to about 46 percent, by weight, boron particles having a diameter of less than about 500 nanometers. Liquid or gel embodiments of the invention may also include adding the boron particles to a liquid fuel in order to form a liquid fuel system. Examples of such liquid fuels include ethyl ammonium nitrate (EAN), triethyl amine nitrate (TEAN), Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), trinitrotoluene (TNT), jet fuel formula (JP-10), kerosene, RJ-4, or other hydrocarbon based fuels. These liquid fuel systems can be part of bipropellants wherein the liquid fuel system is stored separately from an oxidizing agent and the two are mixed during operation. Examples of oxidizing agents may include nitrogen tetroxide, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl ammonium perchlorate (HAP), hydoxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN), ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium dinitramide (ADN), or a combination of said chemicals. One specific preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel comprising approximately 61.60 percent by weight EAN, approximately 23 percent by weight boron particles having a diameter of less than about 500 nanometers, approximately 3.85 percent by weight ammonium nitrate, and approximately 11.55 percent by weight water coupled with an oxidizing agent comprising approximately 38 percent by weight hydrogen peroxide, approximately 46 percent by weight ammonium nitrate, and approximately 16 percent by weight water. The present invention also comprises a monopropellant formed by adding the nano-sized boron particles to a fuel containing oxygen. Another embodiment of the invention is a solid propellant wherein the nano-sized boron particles are used as a metal fuel component or as a portion of a metal fuel component and are mixed with an oxidizing agent and bound with a binder.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A gelled bipropellant composition, comprising: a liquid fuel selected from the group of ethyl ammonium nitrate (EAN), triethyl ammonium nitrate (TEAN), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), trinitrotoluene (TNT), jet fuel formula (JP-10), kerosene, RJ-4, or other hydrocarbon based fuels; a

1. A gelled bipropellant composition, comprising: a liquid fuel selected from the group of ethyl ammonium nitrate (EAN), triethyl ammonium nitrate (TEAN), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), trinitrotoluene (TNT), jet fuel formula (JP-10), kerosene, RJ-4, or other hydrocarbon based fuels; an oxidizing agent selected from the group of nitrogen tetroxide, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl ammonium perchlorate (HAP), hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN), ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium dinitramide (ADN), hydrazinium mononitrate, water, or a combination thereof; and, from about 2 percent to about 46 percent, by weight, boron particles having a diameter of less than about 100 nanometers wherein the boron particles act as a gelling agent when mixed with the liquid fuel. 2. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 1, wherein the liquid fuel comprises EAN. 3. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 2, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises hydrogen peroxide, ammonium nitrate, and water. 4. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 3, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises approximately 38 percent by weight hydrogen peroxide, approximately 46 percent by weight ammonium nitrate, and approximately 16 weight percent water. 5. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 4, comprising approximately 61.60 percent by weight EAN, approximately 23 percent by weight boron particles having a diameter of less than about 100 nanometers, approximately 3.85 percent by weight ammonium nitrate, and approximately 11.55 percent by weight water. 6. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 5, further comprising a second gelling agent. 7. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 6, wherein the second gelling agent comprises less than about 3 percent by weight. 8. The gelled bipropellant composition of claim 7, wherein the second gelling agent comprises fumed silica. 9. The propellant composition of claim 1, further comprising a monopropellant formed by adding the boron particles to a fuel containing oxygen. 10. The propellant composition of claim 9, wherein the fuel containing oxygen comprises a chemical selected from the group of HAP, HAN, EAN, TEAN, ADN, ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, hydrazinium mononitrate, nitroglycerine, propylene glycol dinitrate (PGDN), other nitrate esters, or a combination of said chemicals. 11. The propellant composition of claim 10, further comprising a protective coating surrounding the boron particles. 12. The propellant composition of claim 10, wherein the protective coating comprises vinylidene difluoride and hexafluoropropylene. 13. The propellant composition of claim 1, further comprising a solid propellant wherein the boron particles comprise a solid fuel. 14. The propellant composition of claim 13, further comprising other metals mixed with the boron particles comprising the solid fuel. 15. The propellant composition of claim 14, further comprising a binder comprising from about 3 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight. 16. The propellant composition of claim 15, wherein the binder may be selected from the group comprising glycidal azide polymer (GAP), nitrate esters, HTPB, CTPB, other carboxy terminated materials, other hydroxy terminated materials, or cellulose acetate. 17. The propellant composition of claim 16, further comprising an oxidizing agent comprising less than about 80 percent by weight. 18. The propellant composition of claim 17, wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group comprising ammonium perchlorate, hydroxyl ammonium perchlorate, hydroxyl amine nitrate, or other energetic ingredients containing NF2 groups. 19. The gelled bipropellant of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the boron particles comprises less than about 50 nanometers. 20. The gelled bipropellant of claim 1, wherein the boron particles comprise an increased surface area by comprising an amorphous phase rather than a crystalline phase.