Waterless electrically operated propellant

Abstract

An electrically operated propellant includes a perchlorate oxidizer and a water insoluble polymeric binder with a water solubility of less than 0.1 grams (g) per 100 grams water at 25° Celsius (° C.). The electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 weight % (wt. %) water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically operated propellant comprising:
 a perchlorate oxidizer; and   a water insoluble polymeric binder with a water solubility of less than 0.1 grams (g) per 100 grams water at 25° Celsius (° C.);   wherein the electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 weight % (wt. %) water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 1 , wherein the perchlorate oxidizer is aluminum perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, barium perchlorate, calcium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, perchlorate acid, strontium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal fuel. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 1 , wherein the water insoluble polymeric binder comprises a polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer electrolyte is a solid polymer electrolyte or a gel polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         6 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer electrolyte is a dry solid polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         7 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer electrolyte is a conductive polymer composite comprising a non-conducting polymer matrix and an electrically conducting material. 
     
     
         8 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 1 , wherein electrically operated propellant is waterless, and the water content is 0 wt. % water. 
     
     
         9 . An electrically operated propellant comprising:
 a perchlorate oxidizer; and   a water insoluble polymeric binder comprising a copolymer with a water solubility of less than 0.1 grams (g) per 100 grams water at 25° Celsius (° C.);   wherein the electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 wt. % water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.   
     
     
         10 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 9 , wherein the perchlorate oxidizer is aluminum perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, barium perchlorate, calcium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, perchlorate acid, strontium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 9 , wherein electrically operated propellant is waterless, and the water content is 0 wt. % water. 
     
     
         12 . The electrically operated propellant of  claim 9 , wherein the copolymer of the water insoluble polymeric binder is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making an electrically operated propellant, the method comprising:
 combining a perchlorate oxidizer and a water insoluble polymeric binder with a water solubility of less than 0.1 grams (g) per 100 grams water at 25° Celsius (° C.) to form a propellant composition; and   forming the propellant composition into a solid propellant configuration;   wherein the electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 wt. % water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the perchlorate oxidizer is aluminum perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, barium perchlorate, calcium perchlorate, lithium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, perchlorate acid, strontium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the water insoluble polymeric binder comprises a polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer electrolyte is a solid polymer electrolyte or a gel polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer electrolyte is a conductive polymer composite comprising a non-conducting polymer matrix and an electrically conducting material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein electrically operated propellant is waterless, and the water content is 0 wt. % water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the water insoluble polymeric binder is a copolymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the copolymer of the water insoluble polymeric binder is a polyurethane.