The interaction of electrothermally supplied energy with compact solid propellants

The realization of the electrothermal-chemical (ETC) technology depends on the electrothermally controlled combustion of solid propellants with increased loading density. In order to design a powder charge and an appropriate converter system of electrical energy for an ETC-gun setup, detailed knowledge of the interaction between the electrical energy input and the combustion of the powder is necessary. Basic investigations have been performed at TZN with various closed vessels to understand the fundamental parameters that influence the combustion of compacted solid propellants. The paper presents the results obtained in experiments in a 500 ml closed vessel with compacted JA2-powder in the form of disks and electrothermal energy input. The setup of a closed vessel is given and characteristic experiments as well as their parameter variations are described and discussed.