IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,612,573
Granted Patent B1
US 12,612,573 · App. 19/034,750 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Hydroxyl functional fluorinated monomers as combustion aids for solid fuel ramjet fuels

Inventors: Brian A. McDonald (Taft, TN); Jeremy R. Rice (Huntsville, AL); Terry Pruett (Elora, TN); Jason Wachs (Redstone Arsenal, AL); Kenneth Lawrence Pledger (Huntsville, AL); Wayne Steelman (Hazel Green, AL); Christopher Allen Marshall (New Market, AL); Tony Drew Vinson (Moulton, AL); Dan Jones (Prairie Village, KS); Brian Hayes (Rockford, MI)
C10L9/12C10L2200/0218C10L2270/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,612,573
App. No.
19/034,750
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

The application relates to a SFRJ fuel comprising metallic particles selected from the group consisting of boron carbide and aluminum particles; the metallic particles being encapsulated in a fluorinated coating which aids in combustion; wherein the fluorinated coating is selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-2-propanol, 2,2,2 trifluoroethanol, and 3-hydroxybenzotrifluoride.

Claims (5)

1 . A method of using fluorinated hydroxy functional combustion aids (FHCA) in SFRJ fuels to encapsulate metallic particles within a fluorinated coating to improve exhaust velocity efficiency up to 4 percent, comprising:

pre-reacting hydroxyl functional groups of the FHCA with reagents selected from the group consisting of oxiranes and anhydride curatives,

adding the FHCA to SFRJ fuel comprising a polymer matrix to molecularly distribute and immobilize the FHCA in the polymer matrix, the ramjet fuel including metallic particles selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, aluminum particles, and amorphous boron, the FHCA selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-2-propanol, 2,2,2 trifluoroethanol, and 3-hydroxybenzotrifluoride;

and encapsulating the metallic particles in the distributed and immobilized FHCA.

2 . The method of using FHCA in SFRJ fuel according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic particles do not include PTFE.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: MCDONALD, BRIAN A., MR.; RICE, JEREMY R, MR.; PRUETT, TERRY, MR.; WACHS, JASON, MR.; PLEDGER, KENNETH LAWRENCE, MR.; MARSHALL, CHRIS, MR.; VINSON, TONY, MR.; STEELMAN, WAYNE, MR.; JONES, DAN, MR.; HAYES, BRIAN, MR.
To: USA AS REPRESENTED BY DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Reel/Frame 070699/0024 →
References Cited (8)
US 10591950B2 · McDonald · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20230093642A1 · Swanson · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 111170816A · 2020 [cited by examiner]
CN 112814807A · 2021 [cited by examiner]
B. A. McDonald and J. Rice, “Solid fuel ramjet fuel optimization for maximum impulse-density with respect to air to fuel ratio and relative fuel regression tes derived from thermogravimetric analysis,” Aerospace Science… [cited by applicant]
B. McDonald and J. Rice, “Solid fuel ramjet fuel optimization for maximum thrust to drag ratio and impulse density subject to geometric restraints on missile (continued below)outer mold line,” Aerospace Science and Tech… [cited by applicant]
B.A. McDonald, J. Rice and J. Stewart, “Mechanical and thermodynamic characteristics of a copolymer of LP-33 polysulfide and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene for solid fuel ramjet applications, ”Combustion and Flame, v… [cited by applicant]
B. McDonald, R. Rice, B. Hayes, C. Marshall, L. Pledger, D. Myers and D. Jones, “High density solid fuel ramjet fuel based on 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether and methyltetrahydrophtha.kc anhydride,” Fuel, vol. 278, p. 1… [cited by applicant]