LAUSR

Abstract The ignition and combustion characteristics of electrically controlled solid propellant (ECSP) are investigated via high-speed photography, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry with the application of an electrical voltage across electrodes imbedded in the ECSP. The effects of electrode polarity, electrode material, electrode surface roughness and electrode area on the ignition characteristics of ECSP were studied, and the response of ECSP to heat and electricity is studied separately. Experiments are performed to film the ignition process and the combustion flame and to measure the temperature distribution of the combustion wave. ECSP ignition and burning were localized to the electrode with small electrode surface area and to the interface between the electrode and the insulator when the area ratio was not 1:1. Furthermore, the electrode area ratio, electrode surface roughness, electrode material, and electrode polarity affect the ignition position. Under atmospheric conditions, the ECSP began and stopped with the application and removal of power and the preference of the ignition occurring the interface between the ECSP and the electrode coated insulation. Moreover, the current density distribution result matched well with the ignition and combustion experimental results. A clear “double-platform” phenomenon was observed in the temperature distribution of the combustion wave. The combustion flame of ECSP was determined to be the diffusion flame.