In order to combine the high momentum coupling coefficient (Cm) of polymeric propellant and the high specific impulse (Isp) of metallic propellant, the propulsion performance of polyoxymethylene (POM) seeded with metallic particles has been studied experimentally with CO2 lasers in this paper. The results show that seeding metallic particles can improve the laser propulsion performance of POM under certain conditions. The Cm and Isp of POM seeded with Al particles is almost the same as pure POM at lower power density (<1.7×106 W/cm2). At higher power density (>1.7×106 W/cm2), Cm of POM seeded with Al particles decreases significantly while Isp increases significantly. Laser parameters that affect the laser propulsion performance of propellants are very important factors. Comparing the experiments in this paper with Schall, et al. experiments, we can see that seeding metallic particles can improve the laser propulsion performance of POM only with the use of a shorter pulse width of laser. The use of the sharp pulse is more conducive to improve the propulsion performance of POM seeded with metallic particles.
Experimental Investigation of Laser Propulsion for Polyoxymethylene Propellants Seeded with Metallic Particles
Long LiRelated information
1 Laser Propulsion Lab, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 230026
, Zhiping TangRelated information1 Laser Propulsion Lab, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 230026
, Xiaojun HuRelated information1 Laser Propulsion Lab, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 230026
, Hang ZhengRelated information1 Laser Propulsion Lab, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 230026
, Jie PengRelated information1 Laser Propulsion Lab, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 230026
Published Online: July 30, 2011
Abstract