Experimental study of vegetal based polyurethane fuel filled with paraffin particles for hybrid rocket motors

Abstract

© 2013, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All rights reserved.Experimental investigation was conducted to determine the relative propulsive and combustion behavior of a polyurethane-based solid-fuel formulations containing 30% w/w of paraffin. In total, 4 solid fuel formulations were investigated. The thermal decomposition of the solid fuels was studied at different heating rates in dynamic nitrogen. Fuel containing paraffin was investigated with electron microscopy, paraffin spheres were visualized and measured. Firing tests with 4 configurations were performed. Thrust measurements indicated that the addition of paraffin increased thrust at about 57% and regression rates at about 83%. It was found that increase in regression rate is proportional to paraffin content.