Quantitative Assessment of the Condensed Phase Heats of Reaction in a Double Base Propellant

Abstract

Heat of decomposition of the double base propellant has been calculated from the knowledge of the composition and decomposition enthalpy of the ingredients. This was compared with the experimentally observed value of the propellant decomposition which suggested that condensed phase contribution is very marginal (one twentieth of the total calorimetric value) in double base propellants unlike composite solid propellants where condensed phase contribution is as high as one third. The condensed-phase in double base propellant was attributed to the nitration of the 2n-diphenylamine stabilizer in the propellant matrix.