Experiments to define plasma-propellant interactions

A series of experiments has been performed to contribute to the process of fully characterizing the interaction between a hot plasma igniter and gun propellant such as occurs in electrothermal-chemical (ETC) guns. Diagnostics include pressure generation records for different interaction geometries and chemical analysis of residual propellants following plasma exposure. It is found that ignition times vary substantially by propellant even within similar classes of materials. Subsurface chemical activity has been recorded.