MEMS technology microthrusters and nanoenergetic materials for micropropulsion systems

Abstract

Mini and micro air vehicles, missiles, guided munitions, projectiles and ordinances are controlled by control surfaces, thrust-vectoring and varying thrust. Microthrusters are key components of some classes of flight and naval vehicles. Solid fuel rockets and microthrusters use solid propellants. Vehicles positioning, altitude control, orbital maneuver, aerodynamic orbit phasing and rotational manoeuvres are controlled. Enabled agility and maneuverability are achieved by advanced control schemes and propulsion systems. We examine microthrusters with solid propellants for micro-and miniature flight and naval vehicles. Fundamental, applied and experimental research and technology developments are performed by devising, designing and evaluating multi-physics MEMS technology microthrusters and propulsion systems with nanoenergetic materials.

Hybrid Composites Based on Al/CuO Nanothermites and Tetraamminecopper Perchlorate for High-Performance Energetic Materials

“…Furthermore, nanothermites have extremely high energy release rates because of their large specific interface area and intimate contact between components in nanostructures. , The propagation speeds of combustion waves in nanothermites can reach hundreds or even thousands of meters per second, which considerably exceed those of traditional micron-sized thermites by several orders of magnitude. − Owing to their merits of superior reactive performances, nanothermites are considered as promising candidates for various civilian, aerospace, and military applications. , For example, gas generators are widely used in automobile airbags and micropropulsion system. Traditional gas-generating materials suffer from difficulty in microscale combustion because of their inferior energy densities, whereas nanothermites can be readily initiated and undergo self-sustained combustions on the microscale. , Green primary explosives are another potential application of nanothermites. Many of the currently used primary explosives (e.g., lead azide and lead styphnate) contain heavy metals that are detrimental to human health and the environment. , Nanothermites are particularly appealing for applications in lead-free primers due to their high-temperature output and low-temperature ignition limit. , …”

“…Traditional gas-generating materials suffer from difficulty in microscale combustion because of their inferior energy densities, whereas nanothermites can be readily initiated and undergo self-sustained combustions on the microscale. 14,15 Green primary explosives are another potential application of nanothermites. Many of the currently used primary explosives (e.g., lead azide and lead styphnate) contain heavy metals that are detrimental to human health and the environment.…”