High Energy Perovskites: A New Class of Energetic Oxidizer

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop high-energy perovskites as an oxidizer replacement for ammonium perchlorate. The proposed perovskite materials provide energetic properties on par with or better than ammonium perchlorate, creating propellants with increased Isp while decreasing ingredient production costs. In Phase I, PSI synthesized, characterized, and tested over ten different high-energy oxidizers. These ten materials were down selected to three and formulated into propellants. The propellants were tested against a baseline HTPB/Al/Oxidizer propellant and down selected to the most promising candidate. In Phase II, Insensitive Munitions testing will be conducted including slow-cook-off and small-scale burn testing. Additionally, synthesis scale-up efforts will increase perovskite batch sizes above Phase I levels (6g). Small-scale testing using PSIÆs 2x4 solid rocket motor will be done using a perovskite propellant formulation and compared to an AP formulation. We will look to advance the high-energy oxidizer materials beyond Phase II by scaling the materials for use in large/medium-scale rocket motors. Approved for Public Release | 23-MDA-11635 (9 Nov 23)