Method for controlling a high performance electrically controlled solution solid propellant
The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
1. A method of controlling a propellant, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing an electrically controlled propellant, the propellant made through the steps of:
i. creating a mixture of heat treated PVA/PVAN copolymer binder of approximately 12 mol % PVAN, a hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) based oxidizer, a 5-aminotetrazole stabilizer, and a dipyridyl complexing agent; and
ii. dissolving boric acid in said mixture, thereby crosslinking said heat treated PVA/PVAN copolymer with said boric acid; and
b. adapting said propellant to a thrust controller.
2. A method of controlling a propellant, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing an electrically controlled propellant, the propellant made through the steps of:
i. creating a mixture of PVA/PVAN co-polymer binder, a hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) based oxidizer, a 5-aminotetrazole (5ATZ) stabilizer, a dipyridyl complexing agent; and boric acid;
b. cooling said mixture of said PVA/PVAN co-polymer binder, said HAN based oxidizer, said 5ATZ stabilizer and said boric acid such that they all remain dissolved;
c. curing said mixture by heat treatment;
d. adapting said propellant to a thrust controller.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said heat treatment temperature is at least 25 degrees Celsius.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling step cools said mixture to less than or equal to 20 degrees Celsius.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said copolymer primarily comprises PVA.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein said providing step further comprises the step of cross-linking said PVA/PVAN copolymer with said boric acid.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said heat treatment occurs at approximately 50 degrees Celsius.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said providing step further comprises the step of crosslinking said PVA/PVAN copolymer with said boric acid.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said copolymer primarily comprises PVA.