Synthesis and application of iron oxide nanoparticles in chemical propulsion

• Grant number: 19/03042-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Elizabete Yoshie Kawachi
• Grantee: Paula Cristina Gomes Fernandes
• Host Institution: Divisão de Ciências Fundamentais (IEF). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aerospace industry has invested in research and development of new formulations that improve the performance of propellant grains used in rocket engines. One of the important studies about this context is the catalytic activity of metal oxides in increasing the burning rate of the propellant and especially in the degradation of the ammonium perchlorate oxidant. The effectiveness of iron oxide as a burning catalyst and its low cost have been the main reasons for its wide use in propellants. In addition, the use of iron oxide particles at the nanoscale has presented advantages, such as the greater surface area and consequently greater reactivity. Based on this, the objective of this work is to apply iron oxide nanoparticles, synthesized by the microemulsion method, in solid propellant grain compositions and to evaluate its catalytic effect during burning. For this, samples of propellant grains containing iron oxide particles on a micro- and nano-scale will be prepared and characterized by thermal analysis to evaluate the stability and degradation behavior of the propellant as well as the Crawford pump type test (Strand Burner) to determine the ballistic parameters of the propellant / motor assembly. As the nanometric materials present a great tendency to aggregate, the study of dispersion of nanoparticles and evaluation of the influence of this parameter on the catalytic effect of iron oxide will be carried out.

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PIMONT, LIA JUNQUEIRA; GOMES FERNANDES, PAULA CRISTINA; DE ARAUJO FERRAO, LUIZ FERNANDO; NAGAMACHI, MARCIO YUJI; CARDOSO, KAMILA PEREIRA. Study on the Mechanical Properties of Solid Composite Propellant Used as a Gas Generator. JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 11, n. SI, p. 7-10, 2019. (19/03729-8, 19/03042-2)

GOMES FERNANDES, PAULA CRISTINA; GOMES, JESSICA SANTOS; KAWACHI, ELIZABETE YOSHIE; NAGAMACHI, MARCIO YUJI; DE ARAUJO FERRAO, LUIZ FERNANDO; CARDOSO, KAMILA PEREIRA. Exploring the Mechanical, Thermal and Ballistic Effects of Carbon Black on Paraffin-Based Fuels for Hybrid Rocket Motors. JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 11, n. SI, p. 19-22, 2019. (19/03729-8, 19/03042-2)

GOMES FERNANDES, PAULA CRISTINA; GOMES, JESSICA SANTOS; KAWACHI, ELIZABETE YOSHIE; NAGAMACHI, MARCIO YUJI; DE ARAUJO FERRAO, LUIZ FERNANDO; CARDOSO, KAMILA PEREIRA. Exploring the Mechanical, Thermal and Ballistic Effects of Carbon Black on Paraffin-Based Fuels for Hybrid Rocket Motors. JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 11, p. 4-pg., 2019-01-01. (19/03729-8, 19/03042-2)

PIMONT, LIA JUNQUEIRA; GOMES FERNANDES, PAULA CRISTINA; DE ARAUJO FERRAO, LUIZ FERNANDO; NAGAMACHI, MARCIO YUJI; CARDOSO, KAMILA PEREIRA. Study on the Mechanical Properties of Solid Composite Propellant Used as a Gas Generator. JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 11, p. 4-pg., 2019-01-01. (19/03729-8, 19/03042-2)