Thermal Stability and Shelf-life of High Energy Fuel for Torpedoes (Short Communication)

Abstract

1,2-Dinitroxy propane-based liquid fuel is an advanced high energy fuel for torpedoes. The high energy fuel is used with an oxidiser, viz., hydroxyl ammonium perchlorate as a bi-propellant system for torpedo propulsion. Thermal stability of high energy fuel has been arrived at by differential thermal analysis and also by following the depletion in stabiliser content as well as increase in acidity with ageing. Rate constant for decomposition, activation energy for depletion of 2-nitro diphenylamine (2-NDPA) and shelf-life of high energy fuel have been determined. Due to the high vapour pressure of high energy fuel (because of 1,2-dinitroxy propane ), usual experimental set up could not be used and the sample was conditioned in sealed tubes. The shelf-life of high energy fuel is arrived at using Woolwich, Berthelot and Arrhenius equations and the results obtained are 100 years, 125 years and 276 years, respectively. Considering the safety aspect, the lowest value, viz., 100 years is recommended as safe life of high energy fuel. This work confirms the reported estimates of the good storage stability of high energy fuel.