Electrically controlled solid propellant

Abstract

An electrically controlled propellant comprising an ionomer oxidizer polymer binder, an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material, and a mobile phase comprising at least one ionic liquid is disclosed. The PVAN polymer in the present invention may be of medium (>100,000) to high molecular weight (<1,000,000). The present invention also may include the controlled cross-linking of the polymer using epoxy resins, the use of moisture barrier coating, the addition of an energetic combustion additives such as Chromium III and polyethylene glycol polymer.

1 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder of molecular weight greater than 100,000 but less than 1,000,000;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form; and    a mobile phase including at least one non-volatile organic solvent.    
     
     
         2 . The propellant composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of said ionomeric binder is between 500,000 to 900,000.  
     
     
         3 . The propellant composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said ionomeric binder comprises a polyalkylammonium binder.  
     
     
         4 . The propellant composition according to  claim 3 , where said polyalkylammonium binder comprises polyvinylamine nitrate.  
     
     
         5 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form;    a mobile phase including at least one organic solvent; and    a crosslinking agent for crosslinking said ionomeric binder.    
     
     
         6 . The propellant composition according to  claim 5 , wherein said cross linking agent comprises an epoxy resin.  
     
     
         7 . The propellant composition according to  claim 6 , wherein said epoxy resin is selected from the group consisting of glycidylmethacrylate, 1,3-butadiene diepoxy, glycerol diglycidyl ether, vinylcyclohexene diepoxy, and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether.  
     
     
         8 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form; and    a non-volatile ionic liquid that maintains its liquid phase over a wide temperature range.    
     
     
         9 . The propellant composition according to  claim 8 , wherein said non-volatile ionic liquid comprises N,n-butylpyridinium nitrate.  
     
     
         10 . The propellant composition according to  claim 9 , wherein said non-volatile ionic liquid comprises dimethyl formamide.  
     
     
         11 . The propellant composition according to  claim 10 , additionally comprising an alkylamine oxidizer salt as part of said mobile phase.  
     
     
         12 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form;    a mobile phase including at least one organic solvent; and    a moisture barrier coating.    
     
     
         13 . The propellant composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said moisture barrier coating comprises nitrocellulose.  
     
     
         14 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form;    a mobile phase including at least one organic solvent; and    a combustion modifier additive.    
     
     
         15 . The propellant composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said combustion modifier additive comprises a 5-aminotetrazole complex of chromium (III).  
     
     
         16 . The propellant composition according to  claim 15 , wherein said combustion modifier additive comprises a 5-aminotetrazole complex of iron (III).  
     
     
         17 . The propellant composition according to  claim 16 , wherein said combustion modifier additive comprises a 5-aminotetrazole complex of copper (II).  
     
     
         18 . The propellant composition according to  claim 15 ,  16 , or  17 , additionally comprising an alkali earth chloride.  
     
     
         19 . A propellant composition, comprising: 
 an ionomeric binder;    an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material which maintains said oxidizer mix in liquid form;    a mobile phase including at least one organic solvent; and    polyethylene glycol polymer.    
     
     
         20 . The propellant composition according to  claim 19 , wherein said polyethylene glycol polymer has a low molecular weight.  
     
     
         21 . The propellant composition according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a a crosslinking agent for crosslinking said ionomeric binder.  
     
     
         22 . The propellant composition according to  claim 21 , wherein said mobile phase including at least one non-volatile organic solvent is a non-volatile ionic liquid that maintains its liquid phase over a wide temperature range.  
     
     
         23 . The propellant composition according to  claim 22 , additionally comprising a moisture barrier coating.  
     
     
         24 . The propellant composition according to  claim 23 , additionally comprising a a combustion modifier additive.  
     
     
         25 . The propellant composition according to  claim 24 , additionally comprising a polyethylene glycol polymer.  
     
     
         26 . A method for electrically igniting and controlling the burn rate of a propellant, comprising: 
 providing a propellant composition according to  claim 1 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 , or  25 ;    placing said propellant composition into a conductive container;    providing conductors in said conductive container such that at least a portion of each said conductors is in contact with said propellant composition; and    applying a voltage across said conductors.