Solid combustible propellant composition

Abstract

A propellant composition is disclosed, comprising a chlorine-free solid oxidizer, a fuel, a polymer binder, and a dodecaborate salt.

1 . A solid combustible propellant composition, comprising:
 a chlorine-free solid oxidizer;   a fuel;   a polymer binder; and   a dodecaborate salt.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the chlorine-free solid oxidizer compound comprises nitrate salt, a periodate salt, a metal oxide, or a nitramide salt. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the chlorine-free solid oxidizer comprises ammonium nitrate, potassium periodate, potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, potassium dinitramide, or bismuth oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises metal powder. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dodecaborate salt comprises a salt of a dodecaborate anion and a cation comprising an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, ammonium, or alkylammonium. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a nitroplasticizer or other energetic fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , comprising from 30-75 wt. % of chlorine-free oxidizer, 1-24 wt. % of metal powder, 5-18 wt. % of polymer binder, 5-22 wt. % of the nitrate ester plasticizer, and 0.1-10.0 wt. % of dodecaborate salt. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of chlorine-free oxidizer to dodecaborate salt is from 4:1 to 60:1. 
     
     
         9 . A method of discharging a propellant, comprising:
 combusting, in an enclosed vessel comprising at least one discharge opening, a composition comprising a chlorine-free solid oxidizer, a fuel, a polymer binder and plasticizer, and a dodecaborate salt; and   discharging combustion gases produced by combustion of the composition as a propellant through the discharge opening.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the chlorine-free solid oxidizer comprises nitrate salt, a periodate salt, or a metal oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the chlorine-free solid oxidizer comprises ammonium nitrate, potassium periodate, potassium nitrate, strontium nitrate, or bismuth oxide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fuel comprises metal powder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dodecaborate salt comprises a salt of a dodecaborate anion and a cation comprising an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, ammonium, or alkylammonium. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises from 30-75 wt. % of the chlorine-free oxidizer, 1-24 wt. % of the metal powder, 5-18 wt. % of the polymer binder, 4-22 wt. % of a nitrate ester plasticizer, and 0.1-10.0 wt. % of dodecaborate salt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio of chlorine-free oxidizer to dodecaborate salt in the composition is from 4:1 to 60:1