Large scale synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles for propellant applications

Author

Nandi, A.K. ; Pant, Arti ; Tripathi, Anand ; Newale, S.P. ; Gajbhiye, V.P. ; Jadhav, A.J. ; Khopade, R.S. ; Prasanth, Hima ; Pandey, Rajan K. ; Bhattacharya, Baidurya

Author_Institution

Chem. Eng. & Pilot Plant Div., High Energy Mater. Res. Lab., Pune, India

fYear

2013

fDate

24-26 July 2013

Firstpage

475

Lastpage

480

Abstract

Nano iron oxide (α-Fe₂O₃) exhibits better performance as a burn rate catalyst in composite rocket propellant. A polymer citrate precursor method (a combustion process) was developed (in this laboratory) for large scale synthesis of nanoα-Fe₂O₃ from starting material iron nitrate. The synthesized nanoα-Fe₂O₃ wascharacterized for bulk density, powder XRD, BET surface area and HRTEM. Two redox titration methods viz. permanganate and iodometricwere discussed for chemical analysis (assay) of samples. Preliminary study indicates that use of nanoFe₂O₃in composite propellant formulations resulted in ~ 50% improvement in burn rate.

Keywords

X-ray diffraction; catalysis; iron compounds; nanofabrication; nanoparticles; propellants; reduction (chemical); rockets; transmission electron microscopy; α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles; BET surface area; Fe₂O₃; HRTEM; bulk density; catalysts; chemical analysis; composite propellant formulations; composite rocket propellant; iodometry; iron nitrate; large scale characterization; large scale synthesis; nanoiron oxide; permanganate; polymer citrate precursor method; powder XRD; redox titration methods; Heating; burn rate; iodometric; large scale synthesis; nano iron oxide; permanganate; propellant; purity estimation; titration;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Advanced Nanomaterials and Emerging Engineering Technologies (ICANMEET), 2013 International Conference on

Conference_Location

Chennai

Print_ISBN

978-1-4799-1377-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICANMEET.2013.6609314

Filename

6609314