Controlled Burn Using Nanoinfused Insensitive Solid Propellant

Future missile systems will need to be faster, more precise, impact a larger theater of operation, and exhibit improved safety for friendly combatants. There are many technology elements that contribute to the desired level of control. In solid propellants, nanoparticle additives theoretically offer attractive improvements to specific impulse, burn rate, and combustion efficiency which can translate to rapid acceleration of the missile, longer flight distances, and higher maximum velocity. Because the nanoparticles are highly reactive, they can be used to dominate combustion behavior and produce a predictable, consistent burn. This requires that the particles be uniform in size and evenly distributed throughout the entire composition. Unfortunately, the gap between theory and reality for implementation of nanoparticles in energetic systems has, until now, hindered their widespread acceptance. Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) proposes to demonstrate the nanoinfusion process in a relevant binder system to create aluminum nanoparticle-filled binders for advanced solid propellant systems. CRG's demonstrated expertise in materials and fabrication process technologies present DARPA and the DoD with the opportunity to obtain more efficient, lower cost nanoparticle-filled composite solid propellants for a variety of future tactical missile systems, enabling controlled and regulated burn performance in an insensitive platform.