Combustion Rates as a Function of Thermite Content for an Energetic Initiator Ink

Additive manufacturing has the ability to expand the applications of energetic materials by eliminating several problems faced in traditional manufacturing. The goal of this project is to create an energetic initiator ink made from a polymer binder, a metal fuel, and a metal oxide for additive manufacturing that can be produced to ignite less sensitive materials, have a wide range of geometries, and have tailorable burn properties. An important aspect in creating a printable material with these tailorable burn properties is the characterization of burn rate and density as a function of composition variables. This work focuses on the analysis of burn rate and density as a function of the percentage of iron sulfur (Fe-S), which undergoes a high heat producing redox reaction but is more controllable compared to pure thermite, and the percent solids loading in strontium nitrate (Sr(NO3)2), barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2), and manganese oxide (MnO2) and aluminum thermite systems. It has been found that increasing the percentage of Fe-S decreases the burn rate, with the maximum burn rate for each composition being at either 15% or 25% Fe-S. It was also found that increasing the percentage of Fe-S increases the density of each system. This research is based upon work supported by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) Space Grant Fellowship through a NASA Cooperative Agreement No. NM-80NSSC20M0034